Since 2010, Ulrich Tukur has portrayed the quirky Wiesbaden LKA Commissioner Felix Murot, with his 13th case, “Tatort: Murot und das 1000-jährige Reich,” airing on October 20. Set in 1944, Tukur also plays Nazi investigator Friedrich Rother. The Murot cases are known for their imaginative and unconventional plots, with highlights including record-breaking episodes that blend various genres. Fans can look forward to the upcoming “Tatort: Murot und der Elefant im Raum,” set for filming in May 2024.
Since 2010, Ulrich Tukur (67) has captivated audiences as the reclusive LKA Commissioner Felix Murot from Wiesbaden. On October 20, his 13th case, titled ‘Tatort: Murot und das 1000-jährige Reich’ (8:15 PM, Das Erste), will be aired. This time, the narrative is anything but ordinary, set in 1944, where Tukur also portrays the Nazi investigator Friedrich Rother. Clearly, no Murot episode is the same as the last.
The Murot cases are arguably the most imaginative and unique entries in the Sunday crime series. This was evident by the fourth installment, ‘Tatort: Im Schmerz geboren,’ which still holds the record for the most ‘Tatort’ victims—47 in total—and has amassed numerous awards, including the Golden Camera and the Grimme Award. It’s been ten years since this memorable film graced our screens, prompting a retrospective on all of Murot’s adventures.
Conversations with a Tumor
Ulrich Tukur’s journey as Felix Murot commenced in 2010 with ‘Tatort: Wie einst Lilly’. In his debut, Murot confronted a dark chapter of German history involving the legacy of RAF crimes leading to an act of terrorism in the 1980s that Murot investigated as a young BKA officer. Right from the start, what set Murot apart was his unique approach—he has a brain tumor, which he names Lilly, and engages in dialogues with it, exhibiting laughter and song. The initial surreal sequences and inner voices established the foundation for the extraordinary ‘Tatort’ episodes that followed.
The story continued in 2011 with ‘Tatort: Das Dorf,’ venturing further into the unconventional and transcending time and space, constantly shifting between genres. Murot’s second case is still regarded as one of the quirkiest, most colorful, and controversial ‘Tatort’ episodes to date, featuring a hallucinatory investigation in a small Taunus village concerning illegal organ donation. It follows that he might even find his own brain served on a platter at some point.
In contrast, ‘Tatort: Schwindelfrei’ (2013) was relatively dull compared to its predecessors. Murot, now liberated from Lilly, investigates a mysterious disappearance in a circus. While the setting is picturesque and allows for reverie, the film ultimately lacks substantial visions.
Record Case ‘Im Schmerz geboren’
Fans of Murot didn’t have to wait long for excitement, as 2014 brought them ‘Tatort: Im Schmerz geboren’, likely the standout piece from the Wiesbaden ‘Tatort’ team. This crime story combines Western, romance, and Tarantino-like elements, sprinkled with Shakespearean influences and numerous quotations. Murot faces the vengeance of an old friend, which results in a staggering death toll of 47—setting a record for ‘Tatort’ and granting Murot iconic status.
The stakes were high for ‘Tatort: Wer bin ich?’ in 2015, but Murot rose to the challenge. This installment completely disregarded the classic ‘Tatort’ conventions. In a fresh twist, Tukur plays himself in a film-within-a-film satire, confronting a murder suspicion in his real life—a novel and engaging concept previously unseen in the ‘Tatort’ universe.
Following that, ‘Tatort: Es lebe der Tod’ (2016) shifted gears into a psychological thriller, where Murot contended with a serial killer, engaging in a cat-and-mouse game in an interrogation room. Reality and fantasy intertwine in true Murot fashion as the narrative unfolds.
Famous Classics Reimagined
What better ‘Tatort’ to explore the theme of time loops than that of Wiesbaden? In ‘Tatort: Murot und das Murmeltier’ (2019), Murot experiences a scenario akin to Phil Connors (played by Bill Murray) in the 1990 classic ‘Groundhog Day’, waking up every day to face a hostage crisis.
The tributes to cinematic classics continued in ‘Tatort: Angriff auf Wache 08,’ which draws heavily from the 1976 US thriller ‘Assault on Precinct 13’, alongside numerous allusions to other great films. Murot, a transport of dangerous criminals, and a young girl find themselves under attack by a sniper team at an isolated police station.
More homages appeared in ‘Tatort: Die Ferien des Monsieur Murot’ (2020), inspired by the comedy ‘The Holiday of Monsieur Hulot’