Sebastian Ströbel (46), the popular star from the TV series “Die Bergretter” (ZDF) is on Sunday (May 7) and Monday (May 8) in the two-part TV series “Herzstolpern” (8:15 p.m., ZDF) to see. In the family story, Alex plays Felix’s (Benjamin Raue) father, who was born with trisomy 21. When Felix falls in love with Emma (Benjamin Raue), who was also born with the bonus chromosome, on an inclusive farm, the helicopter dad gets nervous… In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the actor talks about the shooting and shows himself doing it very excited.
Sebastian Ströbel: I think all three terms are fine. I like the one with the bonus chromosome because it makes it clear that these people have something special.
Ströbel: I find it incredibly interesting and also very appealing to make a film with two main actors who have trisomy 21, but in which it doesn’t really matter. We’re all always talking about inclusion, diversity and equality, so I think it’s nice to make a film that does it justice without being overly excited. It has become a small big film.
Ströbel: That’s a feature that can be applied to anything. Whenever we humans have resentments or develop defensive attitudes, then it has to do with not knowing; you make it “easy”. If you are busy with something, get to know something, have contact with people, then the prejudices and fears of contact vanish. In this respect, this film can be transferred to everything that deals with dealing with people. If we all lived that more, we would have fewer problems on our planet.
Ströbel: That’s true and there will probably always be such misunderstandings. Sometimes living together works better, sometimes not so well. Like everywhere in life. There are also very different colors of trisomy 21. Some need more care, others are very independent. The energy levels are also different. But this also applies to people with “normal” chromosomes.
Ströbel: Many people who are in wheelchairs also don’t want to be asked all the time if they need help. Actually, in most cases you can clearly see whether someone needs help. With a certain level of reflection and empathy, knowing when to say what isn’t all that difficult. You simply offer your help when you see that someone is in need. Just like you would do with any other person without restrictions. If I see someone sitting there crying, I go over there and ask if everything is okay or if I should get help. A society has to develop this degree of sensitivity. But that can only happen in dealing with each other. And that, in turn, is only possible if we live together and not apart from one another.
Ströbel: That was luck. Everyone was in the right place at the right time. We managed to find two actors who are so good and who also fit the roles so well in terms of their characters: Juliane is very extroverted and Benni is a reserved person, but then suddenly it breaks out. It was great to see how Benni in particular has grown over the course of the shoot; he came out of the shoot an estimated ten centimeters taller.
Ströbel: For me personally it was no different at all. Because on the one hand I have what Juliane and Benni lived like that, this warm, emotional, exalted and a lot of cuddling, very strongly. This is very important to me when shooting. For me, shooting is a lifetime, because I’m on the road a lot. With the “Bergretter” I also shoot very special sets, some of which are high in the Alps, where we are exposed to dangers. We have to look out for each other, we have to be sensitive and we can’t afford to cross shots or idiots, because our lives are always at stake. I actually live this kind of sensitivity all year round. This is now also important for me in order to work.
Ströbel: I’ve worked with people with trisomy 21 before, so I knew what to expect. We had to be considerate when dividing up the strength, because they simply got tired very quickly. We also had to protect Juliane and Benni a bit and make sure that there wasn’t too much commotion on the set and that everything was pouring down on them unfiltered. Everyone did a great job and that was what made the shoot so special. And somehow the whole team enjoyed this atmosphere. We were also able to overcome the usual difficulties that we all have in showing our emotions during this shoot. Being real is an incredible example for a person with trisomy 21. It was a kind of reset in dealing with feelings for everyone in the team – that really touched me.
