In the new Stuttgart Tatort episode 'Überlebe wenigstens bis morgen', a young woman stages her suicide as murder to harass her friend. Detectives Lannert and Bootz puzzle over an apparent killing for a long time. The episode is praised for its sensitive theme but criticized in execution.
The ARD crime series Tatort from Stuttgart returns with the episode 'Überlebe wenigstens bis morgen', produced by Brigitte Dithard and directed by Milena Aboyan. The plot centers on Nelly Schlüter, played by Bayan Layla, a woman in her 30s who disguises her suicide as murder. Her aim is to burden her former best friend Fine, portrayed by Trixi Strobel, with investigations before Fine's wedding to Niclas (Louis Nitsche). The body is discovered only much later, delaying the probe.
Detectives Thorsten Lannert (Richy Müller) and Sebastian Bootz (Felix Klare) treat the case as a whodunit initially. Nelly's ex-boyfriend Felix Vietze (Malik Blumenthal) appears suspicious due to his unsympathetic portrayal. A lead through a 'loneliness forum' points to Rike Singer (Melanie Straub), a former employee of the founder (Lana Cooper). Singer, unable to commit suicide herself, drives others to it according to the narrative – a setup seen as daring.
A mid-film insert provides resources for suicide prevention to handle sensitive topics. Yet the resolution, involving Singer's 'half-guilt', feels unsatisfying. Characters lack depth; flashbacks depict Nelly alone in an outdatedly furnished apartment (set design: Anette Reuther). Tanja Gierich's costumes send mixed signals, and dialogue relies on clichés, such as the verbose medical examiner Jürgen Hartmann (Jürgen Hartmann) or comments on digital culture.
New colleague Elvira Möbius (Daniela Holtz) speaks in broad dialect and sings the title song by Gundermann. She embodies an absurd figure oscillating between humor and seriousness, often coming off as embarrassing. The music is by Kilian Oser. Overall, the episode lacks conviction, despite the format's potential in a fragmented media landscape.