Falk ran for six 52-minute episodes during spring 2018 on pubcaster Das Erste and came back this week for a second six-episode season, more than two years after the first.
When the state Minister President receives compromising photos of him wearing women's lingerie, he turns to renowned law firm Offergeld & Partner for help. Richard Offergeld, its founder, thinks he knows the right man for the job: Falk (1), an eccentric ex-collaborator who dresses like a dandy and has a flair for sensitive matters. The lawyer left his job to open a gourmet restaurant called Das Lokal until the establishment went bust and an unknown investor bought it.
Richard happens to be this investor. He offers Falk to give him back the restaurant if he helps the firm for a while. Sophie Offergeld, his daughter and successor, is less than thrilled by this return. Falk lives in a hotel room with a turtle named Gustav, which stays in the firm's fridge when he's at work. He frequently argues with Raimund, the chef of Das Lokal, and has regular appointments with Dr. Kranzow. Trulla, his nonconformist assistant, is also his best friend.
Based on an idea from Stefan Cantz & Jan Hinter (Tatort), Falk is produced by Bavaria Fiction for ARD. Peter Güde (Rentnercops: Jeder Tag zählt, Stromberg) wrote the six episodes of the first season, which are directed by Pia Strietman and Peter Stauch (Mord in bester Gesellschaft, Der letzte Bulle). Fritz Karl is fabulous as Falk alongside an excellent cast: Mira Bartuschek (Heiter bis Tödlich - Fuchs und Gans) as Sophie Offergeld, Alessija Lause (Trulla), Peter Prager (Nord bei Nordwest) as Richard Offergeld and Moritz Führmann (Bitz).
An important client wants his 42-year old son to move out of his home. A self-made millionnaire butcher who enjoys being naked in his secluded garden won't let his neighbour add a window to his house. Raimund complains that he's stalked by a former female schoolmate. The CEO of an airline company must respond to serious charges. Sophie's 18-year daughter Marie wants to give all of her inheritance money to her boyfriend, aged 40. Falk starts a romance with Sabine Schmidt, a woman full of surprises.
Der Fall Roberto Blanco, is the best episode of this very enjoyable season. Schlager legendary singer Roberto Blanco (played by himself) is appalled when he listens to an obscene cover of Ein bisschen Spass muss sein, his most famous hit, by an internet star called DJ Volbeck. The man is in fact a bank employee named Volker Becker and he wants to escape his everyday life. The dialogues are great and there's a superb rendition of Der Puppenspieler von Mexiko in a beautiful scene between Thomas Clemens, who plays Becker, and Roberto Blanco (2).
Curt Cress and Flo Leissle composed the very good soundtrack. The main title theme is called Anwalt A La Carte ("Lawyer A La Carte"). Also with Oliver Fleischer (Danni Lowinski) as Raimund, Marie-Lou Sellem (Sabine Schmidt), Sonja Baum (Dr. Kranzow), Sinje Irslinger (Marie), Claudio De Simone (Erno), Florian Heller (Young Falk), Martin Armknecht (Weigand) and Kristina Walter (Landlady). Hans Peter Hallwachs, Canadian-born actor Bill Mockridge (Lindenstraße) and Joyce Hilg are amongst the other guest stars.
Produced by Bea Schmidt and Oliver Dieckman. Sascha Ommert and Mareike Lueg exec produce for WDR. Andreas Thürnagel is the unit production manager. Cinematography by Eeva Fleig (Episodes 1 and 2) and Florian Schilling (Episodes 3 to 6). Editing by Ollie Lanvermann (Episodes 1 and 2) and Laura Richter (Episodes 3 to 6). Costumes designed by Susa Sasserath. The first season of Falk was filmed between November 2016 and February 2017.
(1) No first name known.
(2) This song, originally another hit of Roberto Blanco, is also the end title of this episode.
https://musiccomposer.tv/ (Flo Leissle)
