Schweiger's "guardian angel" prepares for its debut

by Bénédicte Prot

11/07/2012 - Germany's most prolific actor, director, screenwriter, and producer (via his production company Barefoot Films), Til Schweiger, has released the trailer for his latest film, Schutzengel [trailer] (lit. "Guardian Angel"). The actor, who to a certain extent has become a guardian angel to the German film industry, with at least one box office hit every two years sinceKeinohrhasen [trailer] (the film, released in December 2007, recorded about 6.3 million admissions and became number two at the box office that year, followed by 4.2 million admissions for Zweiohrkücken [trailer] in 2009, and 4.3 million admissions and a third place at the box office for Kokowääh [trailer] last year), plays the protector of an orphaned girl in his latest film.

His character, Max, is a retired soldier who commits to protecting a young orphaned girl called Nina, played by his daughter Luna Schweiger. (In Kokowääh, for which he is preparing a sequel, he played opposite his other daughter Emma). After Nina witnesses a murder, she is pursued by a criminal organisation. It's an action film with lots of gunfire, but unlike the famous Witness, whose plot is similar, Schutzengel retains the humour that is always present in Schweiger's films, among their other typical elements, notably through the character of Max's good friend who advises him from his wheelchair, and looks a lot like German star Moritz Bleibtreu.

The film seems ideal for an American remake, as shown by its spectacular trailer, and Schweiger, who is already well-known in the United States as an actor, plans to seize the opportunity to make his first Hollywood film. He and his daughter are to keep their roles, while Billy Bob Thornton is to take on Bleibtreu's character.

Schutzengel will be out in German cinemas on September 27, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures Germany.

(Translated from French)