Christoph Bach
- 2007
A very human story of love and betrayal lurks in the background of one of the great air disasters of the 1930's in this drama from German writer/director Gordian Maugg. Matthias Silcher (Herbert Schafer) is a man who has been fascinated by his father Jakob (Peter Wolf) for much of his adult life, while Jakob is similarly obsessed with the life of his own father, Robert (Olaf Rauschenbach). When Jakob unexpectedly dies, Matthias takes up his research into Robert's life and death; while in his youth Robert worked as a tailor, when airships enjoyed their great moment of popularity in the 1930's, he took a job with a firm that serviced zeppelins with hydrogen, including the Hindenburg. Robert died in the midst of a work-related accident, and shortly before his death Jakob had tracked down Karl (Alexander May), a close friend and colleague of Robert who was with him at the time of his death. Matthias begins interviewing Karl on a regular basis, but while the old man initially has little patience for Matthias's questioning, in time he begins sharing some of the long-forgotten details of his life with Robert. In the 1930's, Robert had married the great love of his life, Thea (Agnieszka Piwowarska), and through her brother Konrad (Christoph Bach) he landed a job in airship maintenance that led to a prestigious appointment to help keep the Hindenburg in repair. Robert developed a tremendous passion for airships, and struck up a friendship with one of his co-workers, Karl (played as a young man by Hendrik Massute). However, as he devotes more and more time to his work, Robert begins neglecting his wife, while Karl becomes increasingly attracted to the lovely and lonely Thea. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olaf Rauschenbach, Alexander May, (more)
- 2004
A couple have become oblivious to their mutual indiscretions in this drama from German filmmaker Florian Schwarz. Karl (Christoph Bach) and Doris (Jule Bowe) are married, but show little love or trust for one another, and seem to have gone past caring about it. Karl will seduce women on a dare from his friends when he isn't committing acts of homophobic violence, while Doris has been having an affair with Ralf (Walter Kreye), a regular customer at the bar where she works. While Karl and Doris outwardly seem to have little interest in each other's sexual relationships, this doesn't prevent them from spying on their partners, sifting through their personal belongings when the opportunity presents itself. Katze in Sack (aka Let The Cat Out Of The Bag) received its North American premiere at San Francisco's 2006 Berlin and Beyond Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christoph Bach, Jule Bowe, (more)
- 2003
German film school graduate Tom Schreiber makes his directorial debut with the dark drama Narren (Fools), produced by Wim Wenders' production company Road Movies. Shot with digital video, the story involves thane intense loner named Roman (Christoph Bach) who moves to Cologne to work as a draftsman and be near his dying grandmother (Hannelore Lubeck). Meanwhile, literally outside his window, the hedonistic Cologne Carnival starts up and he is unable to relax enough to indulge it its possibilities. He goes to a party and ends up witnessing a crime, but he's reluctant to participate in the concluding violence that erupts when he catches up with the perpetrator. Later, he meets a woman named Stella (Victoria Deutschmann) and ends up going back to her place -- with disturbing results. Fools was screened at the 2003 Taormina Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christoph Bach, Victoria Deutschmann, (more)
