Fearless
Profile of young actor Kostja Ullmann
by Jed Medina

“It’s not bad to be naked on a film set, but it’s not the physical nakedness that I felt so much as being mentally stripped. It is already a strange feeling to lie naked on a sofa and be flogged, I needed to somehow find a way to adjust to that and still make the scene look natural and real. Once I study and absorb a character, it grows in me; there is this blur between what’s real and what’s not. It’s only when I suddenly hear ‘Cut!’ that I’m back in reality.” says Kostja Ullmann.

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The young German actor was talking about his role in the award-winning film Verfolgt (Hounded, also known as Punish Me), where he played Jan, a young juvenile delinquent who gets involved with a much older woman. With its unique take on relationships and it’s rather dark theme of bondage, critics agree that instead of delivering the usual “cheap psychological analysis, it tells the facts without interference through photography and editing and allowing the audience to draw its own conclusions.”

Variety described the film as "...a small but single-minded drama that sticks to the ribs.(...) "Hounded" has an attractively perverse take on sexual desire that's boosted by resonant B&W lensing and Maren Kroymann's no-nonsense performance as the transgressive Mom (...) With its gritty, chiaroscuro photography and low-budget feel the film is very different (...) There is a tight, focused, forward momentum to "Hounded," with no back-story or psycho-babble, that leaves little time for the viewer to question it in "realistic" terms. (...) The choice to shoot in B&W seems absolutely right, both visually (in Bernd Meiner's contrasty lensing) and dramatically."

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A lot has been said about the film being shot in black and white. (See above trailer for the movie, courtesy of youtube. Note: Video contains nudity).

Says Ullmann:

"When they decided to have the film in black and white, I think it added a certain sensuousness to it, a unique dimension - it empowered some of the scenes. I am convinced that if the film had been shot in the usual way (in full color), it would have lessened the impact."

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"I was shocked when I first read the script, because it was the first time for me to be offered such a role and I had no idea how I would act some of the more sensitive scenes. But I liked the challenge and it kept me thinking about how I should do them - I found the subject quite exciting. When I heard that Maren Kroymann would play the role opposite mine, then it was clear that I had to have this role!

A large part of my preparation for the role involved rehearsals with Maren. We met on almost every available weekend, talked about the scenes and how we should deliver the lines… we both agreed it was important to loosen up and get to a certain comfort level, that way we got real close and we knew how far we could go."

Taking on such a challenging role is not a new departure for the actor. After appearing in a variety of shows on German television, Ullmann was offered the role of Achim, one of the leads in Marco Kreuzpaintner’s Summer Storm. Acting opposite another top young actor, Robert Stadlober, Ullmann’s role required him to do love scenes with Stadlober in this gay-themed coming-of-age film. The film went on to win awards in Germany, including nominations for both leads. It was also officially selected in many film festivals, including Toronto, Berlin, London and Palm Springs.

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"I was taking acting lessons when I got the offer to play a leading role in Summer Storm. With its success, the attention we got from fans and the press was a wonderful feeling. I felt lucky in that I was getting paid for doing something that I liked a lot."

But he is now trying to get into more mature roles. Coming-of-age films seem to offer him no new challenges at this stage of his career.

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"I think filmmakers and the studios are aware of my desire for more mature, challenging roles, though I still get those teen character roles! In "Schliemann and Sophie", I even had a beard (laughs) to make me look older!"

Here's a youtube video featuring Kostja- some very good scenes from the movie Summer Storm is included.

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Born in Hamburg in 1984, Ullmann first made a name for himself in German television. His role in Summer Storm propelled him into the German movie scene, and paved the way for more notable roles.

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Profile of Kostja Ullmann written by Jed Medina for the Movie-Fanatic. Interview excerpts taken from the Planet Interview (in German) and freely translated into English by the author.

This profile is part of a series, The German HotList, a list of the most exciting up and coming German young actors.

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[ Kostja Ullmann official website ] [ Germany agency ] [ Planet Interview article ] [ Punish Me official movie site ] [ Summerstrum official movie site ]

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