It seems to come in fashion to criticize every single Tatort episode. Recently, an already post-produced Swiss Tatort has been revoked by a newly engaged commission member of Swiss TV - the Tatort has not been broadcast and she appeared in two subsequent numbers of the Swiss newspapers, photo included. The newest German Tatort with Mehmet Kurtulus has been praised by all female critics (faqlling for the masculinity of "Batu" which is sufficient perhaps for aftershave-advertisements), although not one Tatort episode of the last years has reached such a low percentage of audience. The problem is not, as suggested, the overall-use of stereotypes: it was simply superficial, stupid and boring. As for the Austrian Tatort - No. 3 in the community of the 3-nations-cooperative work -, the alleged use of stereotypes was again underlined. Since it is well known that Germans like to laugh about Austrians, the question rises who it is here who uses stereotypes. Austrian Tatorts are part of this gigantic series since the beginning (1971), when one could enjoy the unforgettable Oberinspektor Marek. Leading other Krimis have come from Austria, Commissar Rex and Kottan, to mention only the most famous ones. But, more important, Austria has since a long time surpassed both Switzerland and Germany in producing high-level non-Hollywood-style movies. As it is well known: in Switzerland, movies which attract international attention don't exist anymore since a very long time. Almost as deplorable is that the German output of high-quality movies has almost reached the zero-point in the last years. Connoisseurs know thus since a long time that good German speaking movies come from Austria. That this is not only like that since yesterday, the huge Hoanzl-collection of several hundred high-top Austrian movies since the silent time proves in splendor. I am not an Austrian, but when Austrian movies are falsely criticized, then I diagnose Sour Grapes.
