The drama „About Luis“ celebrates its German premiere in Aschersleben of all places. In front of a sold-out audience and with lead actor Max Riemelt. How it came about.

The red carpet has actually been rolled out for him on Saturday evening. But Max Riemelt – star of films such as „Napola“, „The Wave“ and „Girls, Girls“ – is standing next to it, hugging guests and having his photo taken with them. With a smile, he tells the people who ask for a snapshot together at the German premiere of the film „About Luis“ in the Aschersleben cinema: „That’s what I’m here for!“ Sandra Pannwitz, who came with her friend Laura Braun from Welbsleben, has been waiting outside the cinema for four hours. „I’m a huge fan,“ admits the 48-year-old, who met Riemelt at a fan convention in Paris in 2018. She now has the photo taken of the two of them at the time signed. And presents him with a small gift. „A little chocolate as a thank you!“

The fact that director Lucia Chiarla’s work, which premiered on the big screen at the Zurich Film Festival at the beginning of October and is due to be released across Germany on 23 January, is now celebrating its German premiere in Aschersleben, of all places, is mainly thanks to Patrick Müller-Dohmeyer. „We’ve known each other for over 20 years. I founded the first official Max Riemelt fan club back then,“ says the young man, who is Managing Director of the training academy for railway professions and a board member of the Merchants’ Guild in the one-city.

„We met for the first time in 2002. This has developed into a long-standing friendship,“ says Müller-Dohmeyer, who now manages the actor’s official website together with a partner (Michael Hensch) and is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Patrick Müller-Dohmeyer

It’s all about the premiere tour for his new film, which otherwise only includes metropolises such as Berlin, Munich and Hamburg. The starting signal is given in Aschersleben. ‘I’m really looking forward to it,’ nods Martin Rothe, the new cinema operator, for whom the “About Luis” premiere is his first big challenge. The 225-seat cinema is indeed sold out. Rothe thanks his family and all the helpers who worked in the background to ensure that the cinema provided a great backdrop for the evening.

Patrick Müller-Dohmeyer, who was able to be on set during the shoot, welcomes Riemelt, the film’s director and the producer to the premiere. „I am overwhelmed and very happy that we are sharing this moment!“

The story of the drama, which then flickers across the screen, tells of Constanze (Natalia Rudziewicz) and Jens (Max Riemelt), an architect and taxi driver, whose ten-year-old son Luis becomes the victim of bullying at school. A rucksack is identified as the reason: purple, with glitter and a unicorn. It gives him strength, says the boy, who loves the rucksack and is bullied by his classmates for it. The school blames the parents. They are caught between anger, indignation and helplessness and suffer along with their child. When the mother disposes of the supposed trigger in the rubbish bin in the film, the father states: „Bullying never has a reason. Today it’s the rucksack, tomorrow it’s something else.“ Has he experienced bullying himself? Max Riemelt nods. ‘I think everyone has experienced bullying at some point,’ he says, recognising that it is a complex issue that many people try to tackle with simple answers.

„Maybe the bully has suffered something at home and wants to pass on the pain,“ he gives an example. And he thinks so: „It’s a very emotional film. And the film shows how dependent we are on social norms.“ Lucia Chiarla, who is not only the director but also the screenwriter, has used two remarkable stylistic devices for the film, which is based on a play. Firstly, the actual main character – ten-year-old Luis – and his suffering cannot be seen at all. The boy can be heard on the phone, there are conversations about him, the rucksack is in the picture, but he himself is never seen. It’s all about Luis, just as the film title promises, about the reactions to what he has to go through. „The child is a symbol,“ says Chiarla. Anyone can project themselves into it. On the other hand, the father’s taxi becomes the setting. „That was my directorial idea – I wanted to get away from the flat in the play,“ explains Lucia Chiarla. „And the taxi offers the opportunity to focus on the whole of society, the constant stress, the aggression. It’s a place that moves but is still intimate.“ Max Riemelt is taken with the story. „I’m always happy when someone writes it themselves, has a clear vision and sees me in it.“ He also got on well with the director right from the start. „I thought her idea was great, it’s just worth it,“ he praises the thought-provoking drama.

Source: MZ Aschersleben from 20.07.2025 / Regine Lotzmann