A paradise on the picturesque Ochseninsel in the Flensburg Fjord. Created by four inseparable friends – Sabine and Bernd, and Charlie and Jakob. Here the four children of the two couples grow up like siblings, carefree and sheltered. But then disaster strikes. On the last sailing trip of the year aboard the "Orplid", the friends' shared boat, one of the young people goes overboard at night in heavy seas. Despite an intensive search, Kjell is never found. Neither dead nor alive.
"Tod von Freunden" tells of what such a tragedy unleashes in people, and of the dark secrets and life-lies that can hide behind a happy facade. Each of the eight family members is given their own narrative perspective on the dramatic events, raising questions about how we deal with the truth, what value happiness holds, and what a paradise built on lies is really worth.
(Source: ZDF Presse)
Anton Petzold on his role as "Karl Küster": "The biggest challenge was the long shooting period. At the start of the project I was 15 years old and in Year 10 at a grammar school in Saxony. In Saxony, all pupils have to sit a kind of final exam in Year 10. Juggling that and the 'normal' schoolwork alongside preparing for the role and the shoot was an immense challenge. On top of that, the character is essentially the complete opposite of how people perceive me. I am very loud and emotional, and Karl almost never is. So I had to play in a very restrained way. Before filming I was able to have conversations with a therapist, who gave me a new perspective on the subject of autism. I am also very fortunate to have an autistic friend with whom I had an open exchange during preparation; he answered many of my questions and let me observe a great deal. With so many different locations across Germany, Denmark and Greece, there was at times an almost holiday-like mood among both the cast and the crew, which made getting on with all these wonderful people so much easier. I could ask technical questions at any time, share ideas, and learn so much that was new. I was, and remain, deeply impressed by the performances of the other actors."
Written & directed by: Friedemann Fromm
Production: Letterbox Filmproduktion
Casting: Marion Haack