The joy of the Tatort titles - and Wikipedia rebuilds the Berlin Wall.

[tree_and_leaf]

I am developing a worrying addiction to the German/ Austrian TV detective series, Tatort. They're made by each region of ARD, each following a regular team in the CID (specifically murder) in each regional TV area.

The programme has been running since 1970, and I think my addiction is connected to the title sequence, which is so splendidly of its time. I'm glad that ARD have resisted the temptation to mess about with it (but then I still prefer the older versions of the Doctor Who titles!); at the same time, it continues to try new things and occasionally win prizes. It's interesting that - as Wikipedia has just informed me - that the earlier episodes tend to use loners as the central characters, these days teams are prefered, though.

Bizarrely, the English language Wikipedia contains the assertion: Standing: End of October 2006. The GDR equivalent of Tatort is Polizeiruf 110, which today shares a time slot with Tatort.

Which, as it happens, is true, because ARD now makes it - but it does rather sound as if the author thinks that East Germany still exists...

Comments

[parrot-knight.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about the title sequence - definitely from the same era as the first titles for The Sweeney (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmUOee7fRRQ). I can't think of a comparable British television project to Tatort, beyond occasional play strands in the days of regional ITV, and I think that while TVS was dominant other companies were allowed at times to break into Dramarama.

[ajodasso.livejournal.com]

Apologies for being off-topic, but I would very much like to hear about this Rosa Mystica of which you speak. I'm addicted to all things aromatic: incense, wine, tea, perfume oils (which I've been known to blend on occasion), etc. My most recent project was getting my hands on some raw frankincense resin and some Greek Orthodox Bulgarian rose incense and combining them. I have a real "thing" for that particular combination.

[tree_and_leaf]

I'm afraid I can't tell you any more about it than can be found here: http://shop.walsinghamanglican.org.uk/acatalog/e_Shop_Priests__Supplies_6.html ; it certainly burns well and isn't prone to the acridity top note you can sometimes get with incense, and it's not got the aftershavey element that some of the cheaper ones do (which is why I don't like Prishnak's 'Cathedral', although their 'Basillica') is OK. The other point in favour of Rosa Mystica is that it seems to clean well out of the thurible!

Despite the name, it's not very rosey - our chaplain brought some incense back from Mt Athos and we were all just about suffocated by the rose element, but I'm now wondering what would happen if we mixed it with the Rosa Mystica. Interesting thought!

[tree_and_leaf]

Gosh yes, I see exactly what you mean!

Tatort - in terms of production - is very German. It's a good idea, though - it gives the regional companies a calling card, it keeps everyone fresh, and it prevents the audience getting bored of the various teams. Also, it's nice to see other bits of Germany, rather than always bloody London. (OK, Life on Mars was set in Manchester, but still...)

[ajodasso.livejournal.com]

You know, I think the rose incense I have might have come from there! And yes, I'm hoping that by blending in the frankincense, the rose will be better balanced.

[lizw.livejournal.com]

Yay, Tatort! I grew up on that show. I think it's responsible for the fact that I still have a greater tolerance for the long, slow plot build-up than almost anyone else I know. Not living in Germany any more, though, I haven't seen it for a good ten years or so.

[lizw.livejournal.com]

Er, here via oursin, by the way!

[tree_and_leaf]

Tatort is still good - and still goes in for long slow plot-builds (although presumbably they changed this stategy for the episopde they did in real-time, a la 24).

Personally I think the slow build is great - but it's quite a change from modern British telly.