Abschiedsvorstellung (1986)

• 70%
• 1986
• Peter Weck
• Eberhard Fechner
• Lola Müthel
• Anne-Marie Blanc

A classical who-dunnit-detective-story in an unusual setting: In the retirement-home for aging stage-artists "Ewige Rampe", an overly engaged doctor discovers what seems to be a murder by poison. The victim is the only inhabitant of the home who was not on stage, but a reporter of a gossip magazine. The two investigating police inspectors soon find out that the deceased lady blackmailed most of the inhabitants with little secrets she found out in her time as a reporter - nasty, but harmless things like a little shoplifting, alcoholism, a corrected date of birth, a success one never had... but are these little old secrets reason enough to kill someone? Or is there someone with a more important dark spot in the past? And what part does the attractive, but mysterious director of the house play, who cared for the founder of the "Ewige Rampe" in her old age? Has the caretaker, a plump man with a criminal background, a part in the murder? The film shows an eye-winking variety of aging stage-actors: the mundane old diva, the vain tenor, the melancolical comedian who always dreamed to be a tragic actor, the soubretta who would never admit her true age, the gay ballet-dancer, the opera-singer with a tragic story that made her loose her voice. All characters are hilariously comic, but touching and a little tragic at the same time. Finally, the cynical inspector and his young enthusiastic assistant solve the mystery in a surprising manner and peace comes back once more to the inhabitants of the idyllic place.