'Babylon Berlin' kicks off third season in 2020
The European Film Award-winning TV series is the most expensive one ever shot in Germany. Set in 1929, the third season of "Babylon Berlin" starts in January. Here are a few things you need to know to get ready.
Gereon Rath, inspector
The young inspector from Cologne repeatedly comes into conflict with the law himself. Rath (Volker Bruch) was transferred from the Rhine region to Berlin for disciplinary reasons, but gets involved in shady business there too. He falls for the vibe of this glittering metropolis and its roaring 1920s nightlife — as well as for the sassy stenotypist Charlotte in the police headquarters.
Charlotte Ritter: Rath's girlfriend
A coincidence has brought the two together: Charlotte (Liv Lisa Fries), who comes from a modest background, goes to police headquarters in search of a job. She gets a position as a stenotypist, but also has a nose for tracking down criminals. Not only with Gereon Rath, who falls hopelessly in love with her, but also with others, she throws herself into the glittering nightlife of Berlin.
Dance club Moka Efti
This is the main place where Commissioner Rath, Charlotte (center), her entourage of male acquaintances, and the shady nightclub owner Dr. Marlowe congregate at night: the legendary Moka Efti. Here, they party hardy, dance, deal drugs, consume cocaine and drink until they drop. And in the cellar, johns take their pleasure in the occasional prostitute.
Bruno Wolter, chief inspector
A police officer with the face of a gangster: Chief inspector Bruno Wolter (actor Peter Kurth) works on the vice squad and as a clever investigator. He knows the underworld of Berlin all too well. Gereon Rath learns from him that, in Berlin police circles, you don't have to be so exact when it comes to law and order. He also realizes that trust is a fragile commodity.
Dr. Schmidt, doctor
Actor Jens Harzer plays the shady character Dr. Schmidt in the TV series. He is the current bearer of the prestigious Iffland Ring, which honors the best German-speaking theater actor and which he inherited from the late actor Bruno Ganz. As Dr. Schmidt, his treatment of Gereon Rath, who as a former soldier on the front is plagued by tremor attacks, borders on the illegal.
Babelsberg as backdrop
The new episodes of this successful German series were also shot on the historical film sets of Babelsberg Studios. Hollywood directors likewise come here to shoot films staged during the 1920s or the Nazi era. Uli Harnischfeger designed and built these original-looking streets.
Bustling Berlin
CGI was used for the newly shot scenes. For this third season, scenes were likewise filmed at some of the original Berlin locations, like here at Alexanderplatz. This is where the "Rote Burg," the Berlin police headquarters, were located in the 1920s. This is also home to Gereon Rath's office. The 12 new episodes are based on the novel "Der stumme Tod" by German author Volker Kutscher.
Premiere and kick-off
The premiere of the third season of the TV series will again take place in Berlin. Pictured here from left to right: director Tom Tykwer, actors Leonie Benesch, Liv Lisa Fries and Volker Bruch, as well as director Achim von Borries. Henk Handloegten is the third director on the series. The new season starts on January 24, 2020 on German pay-channel Sky, and on public broadcaster ARD in the fall.