Heiner Lauterbach: “Deep disgust” for racism and hatred of Jews

The new Sky series “Tower Shadow” with Heiner Lauterbach (71) in the lead role is not easy fare. The actor plays Ephraim Zamir, a Jewish man who survived the Holocaust as a child and in 2005 had to witness how neo-Nazis killed his adopted daughter kill. In order to avenge her death, he makes a drastic decision: He takes the perpetrators into his power, locks them in a medieval defense tower and then broadcasts his further actions publicly online.

In a kind of people’s tribunal, he lets the digital community vote on the life and death of his right-wing radical hostages, while more and more journalists, demonstrators and special forces gather in front of the tower. Zamir has nothing left to lose and pursues his campaign of revenge with all his might.

Shortly after the series started on November 15th, Heiner Lauterbach commented on the series and the currently rampant anti-Semitism in Germany. Regarding the series, which was sometimes criticized for being too sensational, he said: “As an artist, I can only move people with exciting art – with a moving film story that touches people deeply and forces them to think – or even to rethink. A cheap film “The right-wing is shit” slogan isn’t enough.”

He also has a clear opinion on anti-Semitism and right-wing ideas: “That is of course absolute rubbish! I have a deep abhorrence for all racism, extremism and all violence – like every sensible, modern person!”