Jannis Niewöhner can be seen naked in “Confessions of the impostor Felix Krull”. The actor has no problem with that, as he reveals.
Director Detlev Buck (58) has ventured into a classic of German literature with “Confessions of the impostor Felix Krull”, which opens in cinemas this Thursday (September 2nd). The remake of the work by Thomas Mann (1875-1955) trumps with a top-class cast: Jannis Niewöhner (29), Liv Lisa Fries (30) and David Kross (31) can be seen as the main actors. Niewöhner takes on the role of impoverished Felix Krull, who thanks to his skills as a con man and his knack for women in society continues to rise.
For the film, the 29-year-old had to drop his covers in front of the camera, which Niewöhner has no problem with. “In the meantime it would be rather strange if I no longer have a nude scene,” jokes the actor in an interview with the news agency spot on news. In addition, the young talent reveals what he particularly appreciates about his two co-actors, why he enjoyed the lockdown and what his dream woman has to bring with him.
How was the collaboration with the other two main actors Liv Lisa Fries and David Kross in “Confessions of the impostor Felix Krull”?
Jannis Niewöhner: Great. I drove directly with Liv from Berlin to Munich. We got along very well straight away. Liv has incredible freedom in the way she approaches life. With David it was as comfortable as it can be. He’s just a fine person. A great actor who was fun to play with.
Did you spend time together outside of the set?
Niewöhner: Definitely. We were all in Munich and always met in the evening. Time to eat or we were in the English Garden. We did a few things together. I like Munich.
In the film you have a couple of nude scenes – with Liv Lisa Fries or Maria Furtwängler. Is that an overcoming for you?
Niewöhner: I’ve got used to it. In the meantime it would be rather weird if I didn’t have a nude scene anymore. Then I would probably feel uncomfortable (laughs). I sometimes wonder why this is such a big issue at all. We’re all naked under our clothes. Many make a bigger thing out of it than it actually is. Of course it’s a little different when other people watch the filming. You don’t have that at home. But I’ve got used to it.
The film is also a love story between Felix and Zaza. The two are very similar in character. Does it have to be the same with your dream woman?
Niewöhner: No, not necessarily. Of course you need things that you can share. It’s nice to have the same view of the world. On the other hand, I think it’s good when you can get new inspiration. Whether in friendships or in a relationship. She should also always be herself. But also have a need for freedom, to be independent. So actually everything that Zaza stands for.
The shooting had to be interrupted due to the corona. How was that for you?
Niewöhner: That was sad. We had shot six or seven days and were all very happy with the team spirit and the first few days of shooting. It didn’t feel good to have to interrupt at this moment. Simply because you didn’t know if we were going to go there again. But for me the time was good. I had time off and was able to really relax. In addition, one was all the more pleased when the shooting continued. In production, great importance was attached to ensuring that all safety precautions are observed, but at the same time that we are given the feeling that we have the same freedom as before.
Some scenes were shot in Lisbon. How jealous were your friends and family when you were allowed to fly there during the Corona crisis?
Niewöhner: That was very lucky. I made another film after that. During the second lockdown, I was on set with 70 people and was able to keep working and being creative. In Lisbon, we’re back straight after filming. But it was enough to eat together by the water in the evening and to go to the beach. For example, I went to the sea and watched the scene in which Zaza and Venosta were sitting on the beach.
They live in Berlin. How did you experience the lockdown there?
Niewöhner: The situation in Berlin was the same as anywhere else. Public life was scaled back and there was less going on. That was very good for me personally. I was just lucky not to have any financial problems and had to take a break that I had wanted to take for a long time. So it was an important time for me. I don’t want to glorify the pandemic, but I also benefited from it.
I am a 24-year-old writer and journalist who has been working in the news industry for the past two years. I write primarily about market news, so if you’re looking for insights into what’s going on in the stock market or economic indicators, you’ve come to the right place. I also dabble in writing articles on lifestyle trends and pop culture news.
