Uncovering the Dark Secrets of Nazi Drug Cartels: A New German Series You Can’t Miss!

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On Tuesday, previews for an array of upcoming German series, spanning various genres and tackling thought-provoking themes, were showcased at the EFM’s Berlinale Series Market. Themes ranged from Nazi drug operations, whimsical fantasies, teenage turmoil, to characters grappling with alter egos.

At the Berlinale Series Market, Germany’s Up Next presentation featured four promising new TV series that are likely to captivate global viewers.

The film ‘The Nazi Cartel’, produced by Kundschafter Filmproduktion and mobyDOK, narrates the events surrounding how infamous Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie and drug kingpin Roberto Suarez orchestrated the downfall of Bolivia’s government in 1980. This event is significant as it set the stage for figures like Pablo Escobar and the emergence of the modern drug cartel industry.

Parallel Me” is produced by Gaumont together with Paramount Television International (PTIS). This series focuses on Toni, a woman who, when she’s at her personal rock bottom, receives an extraordinary chance: she gets to explore different realities that represent alternative versions of her own life.

All In” – Odeon Fiction’s gripping tale revolves around Ayla, a pious Muslim with a knack for astrophysics, grappling with financial hardships due to mounting debts. To alleviate her financial woes, she resorts to poker, jeopardizing her strong religious convictions and life in the process. She invents an alternate persona, one that represents her hidden yearnings and desires, and takes high stakes risks at the poker table.

As a movie critic, I’ve just watched “Euphoria,” produced by Zeitsprung Pictures, which chronicles my personal journey as 16-year-old Mila, having spent three months in a mental health facility following a heart-wrenching ordeal. Back in the world, I struggle even more, entangled in a complex love triangle with Jannis, a fellow student grappling with his own demons, while simultaneously seeking Ali, the girl who captured my heart during our time together in the clinic.

Alexander Lahl, producer of “Nazi Cartel,” shared that the concept originated from conversations with investigative journalist Christian Bergmann. Bergmann had uncovered information about Nazi war criminals who relocated to South America post-World War II, where they amassed secret influence by aligning themselves with right-wing military leaders and drug traffickers. Lahl revealed a specific case involving Klaus Barbie, a notorious Nazi figure in France (less so in Germany), who served as the head of the Gestapo in Lyon during the war. Barbie was infamous for his brutality, and he collaborated with Roberto Suárez, a major drug lord in Bolivia at that time.

Justin Webster, the director, also mentioned that it’s connected to the early stages of the drug trade conflict,” or
“Director Justin Webster also highlighted that it pertains to the initiation of the drug war related to narcotráfico.

This TV show centers around three main characters: Barbie alias Klaus Altmann, a Bolivian entrepreneur with significant influence in the global cocaine market, Michael Levine, an American DEA officer, and their respective journeys towards justice. The series employs historical footage and dramatic reenactments to tell this compelling story.

The film titled ‘The Nazi Cartel’ is created by Kundschafter Filmproduktion and mobyDOK, in collaboration with Sky Deutschland, Sky Studios, and ZDF. The distribution rights are managed globally by NBCUniversal.

In an interview, Jana Burbach, the mastermind behind the fantasy series “Parallel Me,” revealed that the protagonist Toni has twelve alternate lives. She elaborated that each of these lives is a self-contained reality, complete with its own history. This complexity presented a significant challenge for scriptwriting, actors, and everyone involved, as they had to portray not one life but twelve, treating each one with equal importance due to the detailed backstories developed for every character.

Actress Malaya Stern Takeda, who portrays Toni, expressed gratitude for the chance to embody multiple variations of the same character. “It’s exciting because you can delve into character development and really hone these distinct characters,” she said. “Since we have the freedom to present various aspects, it’s natural to explore more extreme territories to highlight the differences. … Admittedly, it was puzzling and overwhelming, but Toni is often perplexed and overloaded as well, so I could leverage that to my advantage — she’s in awe, and so was I.

She mentioned that the number of settings was vast too. Although certain locations and characters repeated, the majority of Toni’s alternate lives featured distinct settings. “This meant we had an enormous amount of items to locate and maintain. That posed a significant hurdle.

Indeed, in addition to Berlin, the series also shot in Poland and Thailand.

As a cinephile, I’m eagerly awaiting the release of “Parallel Me,” a production of Gaumont, jointly made with PTIS, and set to stream exclusively on Paramount+. It’s distributed globally by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Speaking about “All In,” producer Kathrin Tabler from Odeon Film noted that one standout feature of the series was its innovative nature as it marks the debut of a lead character who wears a hijab, making it a groundbreaking first for German television.

Tabler mentioned that the series presents “an unprecedented personal narrative about an unseen character,” yet it also delves into the query, “just how far might one push oneself to pursue their aspirations?

In a fascinating twist, Director Marijana Verhoef likened the show to the intriguing blend of “Breaking Bad” and “The Queen’s Gambit.” She further noted that the character of Ayla serves as a mirror for audiences, reflecting our own experiences and emotions.

As a film critic, I must acknowledge the unique challenges faced by screenwriter Marianna Ölmez, a fellow Muslim and hijabi, in bringing authenticity to her characters and storytelling. This was no small feat, given the complexities inherent in depicting a character who dons a headscarf, or hijab.

Regarding Ayla’s character, she pushes us to think in unexpected ways. What makes her journey so captivating is that she doesn’t conform to our preconceived notions; instead, she carves her unique path. This independence can be seen as her pride, her desire for growth. And that’s something we can all connect with – the human yearning to evolve and exceed ourselves.

When adapting “Euphorie,” the German version of the original Israeli series and the highly acclaimed HBO U.S. adaptation featuring Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and Sydney Sweeney, the creative team faced similar difficulties.

Lennart Pohlig, executive producer from Zeitsprung Pictures, emphasized the need to capture unique teenage stories specific to German youth to distinguish our series from its Israeli counterpart. To achieve this, we decided to base the show in the bustling Ruhr region of North-Rhine-Westphalia. Pohlig described it as a place deeply rooted in German history yet also serving as Germany’s primary cultural melting pot.

Jonas Lindt, both creator and screenwriter, commented, “Since many are familiar with the American version of this series rather than the original Israeli one, it was necessary for us to confront those expectations. We needed to carve out our unique path.

He also discussed examining the varied patterns of drug use among German youth compared to their peers from America and Israel.

This drama series centers around high school students, who are juggling friendships, romance, and challenging issues such as substance abuse, sexuality, personal trauma, and the influence of social media. As stated by writer-director Antonia Leyla Schmidt, the show boasts a substantial cast of more than 100 characters. Given the series’ mature themes involving drugs, scandals, and intimate relationships, numerous intimacy scenes were filmed with almost every member of the ensemble.

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2025-02-17 20:47