Streaming tip: to live so much life – the series “Don’t fall, dance”

Emma danced all puberty all over with death. But now her cancer is gone – “so, I hope that,” emphasizes Emma at the start of the series “Don’t case, dance”. Either way: Now it is time to live and at high speed. She works harder than others, enjoys the fullest and spontaneously takes with me what this livable life has to offer.

The series “Don’t Fall, Dance” is a dramedy – a mixture of drama and comedy. The four episodes can be seen from August 1st in the ZDF streaming portal and directly on TV on August 5 from 10.30 p.m., in the ZDFneo broadcaster.

There is so much to tell so much

The story of Emma (Hanna van Vliet) is told on the one hand in the exciting here and now, garnished with occasional rates into a childhood from being sick and therapy. Well, healed and grown up, your life is great to look at.

Emma begins an internship at the theater at the start of the series and then quickly ends up with television. She meets a man with whom she pulls together after just a few months. Emma writes a book, married, moves to the USA. It’s just not tired.

The story in four episodes is a quick ride – the first episode alone is so full of information and twists that it is difficult to look for. But that can also be a strength of the series: the overwhelming, ruthless lust for life of a young woman who was once terminally ill and seems to have missed so much is told. She doesn’t wait for anything.

Again and again the ubiquitous enemy brows briefly

But ultimately it is not as carefree as the present seems to be: the disease has changed Emma, there are consequences for her body, soul and her environment. There is, for example, the over -caring mother with these warning comments. Or this remark from a man on the first date: “So, I want children later.” But Emma probably can’t get any after the treatments. Or the fears before a check -up whether cancer could have returned.

Emma’s light -heartedness and lust for life are briefly stopped like a braking hand. The stylistic device used forces the viewer to stop and swallow the anxiety before going on with this wonderful life. As long as that still works.

Based on an autobiography

The Dutch-German short series is based on an autobiographical book by the TV manager Margot van Schayk, who died of cancer in 2021. “When the cancer returned for the fourth time and the end became inevitable, Margot decided to write down her story, especially for her little son,” says producer Fleur Winters according to ZDF. “She managed to capture difficult issues with ease, so that her history is not just about illness and farewell, but about a fulfilling life despite all of this.”

In her own words, producer in Winters it was clear that a series must be created – “not as a heavy drama, but as a lively celebration of everything that Margot was: funny, bluntly honest, eager, vulnerable and always curious about what life still had to offer.” That seems successful.