RTL celebrates its favorite investigative journalist: On the occasion of Günter Wallraff’s (79) 80th birthday, the broadcaster broadcasts a “very personal” documentary, as stated in a press release. “Günter Wallraff, the role player – the life of an enlightener” (also on RTL) is intended to show Wallraff’s professional successes as well as private sides.
The film also lets companions have their say. Interview sequences include Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (56) and former Interior Minister Gerhart Baum (89). With the latter, Wallraff has been campaigning for the imprisoned Wikileaks founder Julian Assange (51) for a long time. The documentary was produced by Grimme Prize winner Lutz Hachmeister (62).
The documentation is intended to trace the life’s work of the journalist: from his actions in the 1970s, when he worked undercover as Hans Esser in the editorial office of “Bild”, to his reports “Günter Wallraff uncovers” on RTL, in which he for example at Amazon or in private nursing homes.
Wallraff himself also has his say: the journalist, who will be celebrating his 80th birthday on October 1, talks about his youth, his relationship to religion, his age and how he feels about his assignments today. The documentary “Günter Wallraff, the role player – the life of an enlightener” can be seen on September 29 from 10:35 p.m. on RTL.
