Not every accomplished actor grew up dreaming of the spotlight and taking to the stage. Ronald Zehrfeld is one such actor. At one point in his youth, it seemed sport would be his calling in life. However, fate had other plans, and now Zehrfeld is an award-winning actor who has appeared in numerous critically acclaimed films and television programs.
This month, let’s get to know Ronald Zehrfeld and practice German with film!
Get to Know Ronald Zehrfeld
Ronald Zehrfeld was born on January 15, 1977, in what was then East Berlin. His parents – an engineer and a business manager – both worked for East Germany’s national airline, Interflug.
From a young age, Zehrfeld pursued judo, even attending a school specifically for athletically talented students. He gave up the sport following the reunification of Germany.
As a teenager, he initially studied German and politics before an acting workshop sparked an interest in drama. From there, he studied drama at the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin.
The Cold War Drama: Barbara
Zehrfeld stars as Dr. André Reiser opposite Nina Hoss as the title character in director Christian Petzold‘s 2012 film Barbara.
Set in East Germany in 1980, the film follows a physician named Barbara who has been reassigned, as punishment, to a small town hospital after a request to leave East Germany. The hospital’s chief physician, Dr. Reiser, confides in Barbara that he was also reassigned to the hospital as retaliation and now works as a Stasi informant.
While she initially tries to keep her distance, her job forces her to work closely with Dr. Reiser. Barbara soon learns that life is more complex.
The film earned Zehrfeld a German Film Award (Deutscher Filmpreis) nomination for best male actor.
Where to Watch
Stream with Amazon Prime Video
Language Learning Focus
Because the film is set in a small-town hospital, the dialogue is rich with medical terminology, such as die Ärztin (female physician) and das Krankenhaus (hospital). However, the underlying tension of the plot introduces darker political vocabulary. Listen closely for words like die Versetzung (the transfer or reassignment) and der Informant, which describe the professional threats looming over the main characters.
Post-War Noir: Phoenix
Zehrfeld again teamed up with Petzold and Hoss for the 2014 noir Phoenix.
In the film, Zehrfeld and Hoss star as married couple Johnny and Nelly Lenz. The couple is separated during World War II when the Jewish Nelly is sent to a concentration camp. She survives the ordeal, but her face is disfigured by a bullet.
Nelly makes the journey back to Berlin to be reunited with Johnny. She has heard unsettling rumors that Johnny may have played a role in her ending up in a concentration camp.
But with the damage from the gunshot and subsequent surgery, Johnny doesn’t recognize his wife. Instead, she adopts a new identity in hopes of discovering the truth.
Where to Watch
Stream with Amazon Prime Video
Language Learning Focus
This film is a masterclass in discussing identity and the physical self. The narrative revolves around das Gesicht (the face) and die Operation (the surgery) following Nelly’s survival of the concentration camp. As the plot unfolds, the most critical verb to listen for is erkennen (to recognize), as the tension hinges on whether Johnny truly sees the woman before him.
Historical Justice: Der Staat gegen Fritz Bauer (The People vs. Fritz Bauer)
Lars Kraume’s 2015 film Der Staat gegen Fritz Bauer tells the real-life story of Fritz Bauer, a German Jewish Attorney General, and his effort to bring the architect of the Holocaust, Adolf Eichmann, to justice following the end of World War II.
Burghart Klaußner stars as Bauer, while Zehrfeld portrays the prosecuting attorney Karl Angermann. The pair works together to pursue Eichmann, who is hiding in Argentina.
Zehrfeld won Deutscher Filmpreis for best actor in a supporting role for his performance in the film.
Where to Watch
Stream with Amazon Prime Video
Language Learning Focus
As a historical legal drama, this film offers a unique opportunity to learn judicial vocabulary. You will frequently hear formal titles such as der Generalstaatsanwalt (Attorney General) and der Staatsanwalt (public prosecutor). The dialogue is also driven by abstract concepts of law and morality, specifically the fight for die Gerechtigkeit (justice) in the face of post-war apathy.
Which Film Will You Watch First?
Have you seen any of Ronald Zehrfeld’s films? Barbara is a fantastic starting point for those interested in East German history, while Phoenix offers a gripping psychological thrill. Let me know in the comments which one you plan to watch first!
Practice, practice, practice! Discover more German actors and actresses previously featured.
Top photo by Puria Safary for Players. This post contains affiliate links.
