CHARACTER ACTORS: Michael Gempart

In Das Boot ist voll/The Boat is full (1981), dir. Markus Imhoof, Michael Gempart (born 1941) plays the gendarme of a Swiss village close to the German border. It is World War II, Switzerland is neutral and surrounded by the Axis powers. The government issues directives to the effect that "non political immigrants" be refused entry, explicitly stressing that race is not political. A group of different people who entered Switzerland try to conjure up a family in order to dupe the officials, fulfilling all the requirements stipulated by the authorities. The character of the gendarme who uncovers the set-up is the one I never forgot. It is the one that feels absolutely authentic - down to the last detail. The character displays a strange and creepy combination of intelligence, cruelty, correctness, loyalty to his employers, a hint of uneasyness and, yes, maybe even compassion. The fact that the gendarme as "the law" is entirely on his own adds weight to the performance in an odd way.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Michael
• Gempart
• Das
• Boot
• ist
• voll
• The
• Boat
• is
• full
• Markus
• Imhoof

[ggLaRsgg]

Wir Haben diesen Film in der schule geschuat. Traurig aber wahr

[Boules99]

Well put. I also found him a very interesting character.

[kickdown6]

gibts noch mehr?