Max von der Groeben’s acting career is in high gear. In 2013, he was awarded best young actor in Germany, and in 2020, he won the lead role in legendary musician Udo Lindenberg‘s biopic Lindenberg! Mach dein Ding.
von der Groeben is striking while the iron is hot. The number of titles and roles to his name is remarkable, given his youth and his start in the industry at 12.
This month, get to know Max von der Groeben and learn German with films!
Get to Know Max von der Groeben
Maximilian Alexander Graf von der Groeben was born on January 15, 1992, in Cologne, Germany. He is the son of Olympian judoka and sports journalist Alexander von der Groeben and sports journalist Ulrike von der Groeben. He has a younger sister, Carolin, who is also an actress and journalist. The von der Groeben family name was a part of the German nobility.
Von der Groeben made his first television appearance at the young age of 12 on an episode of Kings of Comedy.
After earning a number of acting roles, he made it official, studying acting at Munich‘s Otto Falckenberg School.
The School Comedy: Fack Ju Göhte trilogy
One of Germany’s most successful films, the comedic Fack Ju Göhte trilogy (known as Suck Me Shakespeer for international audiences), stars Elyas M’Barek as Zeki.
Just released from prison for bank robbery, he goes to retrieve the money he hid at a construction site before he was caught. But it’s no longer a construction site: now it’s a school! In a wild attempt to access the money, he gets a job as a substitute teacher with a classroom of misfits, including von der Groeben as Daniel “Danger” Becker.
The original film went on to spawn two sequels. It features some of Germany’s hottest young actors, including Karoline Herfurth, Jana Pallaske, and Jella Haase.
Where to Watch
Stream with Amazon Prime Video
Language Learning Focus
The comedy’s dialogue has a fast pace, so consider slowing the video down or rewatching sections. With the classroom setting, much of the conversation is Jugendsprache, or teenage slang. Listen for slang, insults, and casual conversation. The film is also a cultural phenomenon in Germany, offering a great window into the country’s youth culture and school system.
The Tense Thriller: Kidnapping Stella
In the 2019 Netflix film Kidnapping Stella, von der Groeben and Clemens Schick star as Tom and Vic, respectively. The pair are ex-cons who brainstorm a way to get a lot of money fast by kidnapping Stella (portrayed by Jella Haase), the daughter of a wealthy businessman.
Their scheme quickly goes bad. Stella’s father shows little willingness to meet their demands. And it turns out this random crime isn’t quite as random as it first seems: Stella knows at least one of her captors.
The thriller is a German remake of the 2009 British film The Disappearance of Alice Creed.
Where to Watch
Language Learning Focus
With only three main characters, the film offers clear, intense dialogue. Pay close attention to the use of the imperative form for commands.
The Post-War Noir: Hinterland
Von der Groeben stars as Kommissar Paul Severin in filmmaker Stefan Ruzowitzky’s 2021 thriller Hinterland.
Set in Vienna following the end of World War I, former detective Peter Perg (portrayed by Murathan Muslu) returns after being held in Russia as a prisoner. The time has changed him, and he’s now skeptical of the world around him. When several veterans, including a colleague, are murdered, Perg gets pulled into the investigation with forensic pathologist Dr. Theresa Körner (Liv Lisa Fries).
Kommissar Severin, a young detective who is looking to climb the ranks, is also put on the case. And Perg doesn’t appreciate it.
Where to Watch
Stream with Amazon Prime Video
Language Learning Focus
As a noir thriller set in post-WWI Vienna, the dialogue is more measured and formal than in contemporary films. Listen for vocabulary related to police investigations and the historical period. You might also catch nuances of Austrian German, which adds an extra layer to your listening practice
Practice, practice, practice! Discover more German actors and actresses previously featured.
Photo courtesy of Agentur Lambsdorff. This post contains affiliate links.
