Matthias Schweighöfer: Germany’s Most Promising Actor

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Interview by Adam M. Polsky

Recognized as one of Germany’s top young actors, Matthias Schweighöfer steps up to the plate for an all out, completely stark and candid interview with Independent Film Quarterly’s Adam M. Polsky. No stranger to indulging in a chameleon-like persona while choosing roles, Matthias has proven himself time and time again to be one to watch for on the big screen. Having had his film, Keinohrhasen in the 2008 Cannes Film Festival with good friend and star, Til Schweiger, who also happened to write and direct the film, he strikes again with the epic biopic, The Red Baron, which is being released theatrically and on DVD in North America on June 1st, courtesy of Monterey Media Inc.

IFQ: You’re dubbed one of Germany’s most promising up and coming young actors, therefore you must have tons of projects flying your way. What made you choose The Red Baron?

Matthias Schweighöfer: To be honest, it was the first time I was offered a $20 million dollar project, and I really loved the story and what it represented. I’ve always loved The Red Baron, and being a German icon of history mixed with reading the script, I knew I had to do it. I also really liked everybody I was going to be working with, especially the Director.

In Germany, regarding the movie industry, you usually have a budget that’s only 3-7 million euros, so this was a really big movie for me.

IFQ: It is stated online and you’ve mentioned in interviews that you have a fear of flying, correct? How did this fit in with making The Red Baron?

MS: That’s right. Afterward, when all was said and done, I realized it was like therapy. Learning to fly was beautiful; flying was fun. Now, I’m totally okay with flying, but at the time when we shot Red Baron, it was horrible; it took a lot of strength. I tried to travel by car everywhere; I hated flying. I found my training and experience to be therapeutic.

IFQ: While filming some of the battle scenes, being that you have a fear of flying in real life, did you implement any fear into the character himself? Did you ever think The Red Baron might be afraid for a moment up there?

MS: For me it was like a fairytale to play someone who loves to fly, and yeah, it was a great opportunity for me to work with my fears. We had flying teachers who taught us every last detail of flying. We learned how the engine worked; we really got to learn how to move the plane up in the air from left to right, and it was a lot of “Ah okay it works like that, okay, great.”  It helped so much, and even though I, of course, physically never flew in the film, it really taught me how to be a fighter pilot, and find the bravery to do so. Make sense?

IFQ: Knowing that The Red Baron was known for his audacity, and courage in the face of danger in perilous missions—In your personal opinion, do you see him as somewhat of a careless, adolescent daredevil?

MS: You know, it was big deal back then for a young guy to fly plane, and if they wanted to fly, they had to join the war, and be of a highly respectable social class. The Red Baron was a young guy and a perfect example of this. He had a dream and he ran with it.

IFQ: What were some of your techniques for preparing for the legendary personification of the courage that he embodied, known as The Red Baron?

MS: First off, we had boot camp training for one month, then we had flying lessons, we were also taught how to be an upper class kid and soldier in WWI times. It was a crazy and difficult time in Europe back then. It took us two months to really work on this. We also had a dialect coach, which took us four months of training to learn how to speak like a German upper class boy. The coach would say, “You have to sit just like this,” or, “You have to talk exactly like this, no different.” We were very well prepared and disciplined.

IFQ: Excellent. Now I want to venture into some more personal avenues pertaining to you and your career. It’s understood that it’s extremely difficult for German actors to integrate themselves into Hollywood, as it is for anyone. To really make a name for yourself in this industry is an incredible and uncertain challenge. My question to you is: What are you doing in the industry and how are you separating yourself from the rest? Why do you think that you’re being called Germany’s most promising up and coming young actor?

MS: I had been brought up in a theater background. I’ve been acting ever since I was a kid and started on the stage. I just worked, worked and worked. I am a worker by nature. I believe the answer to your question is because I just worked and nothing else—no questions.

IFQ: How was the transition for you? From Stage to Cinema?

MS: The thing is, stage work is so much more traditional and local, whereas in cinema, the whole world can see your work all over in very little time. It was very interesting, but I put the same passion into both.

IFQ: Thus far, who are your favorite people to work with, and what makes them fun and productive to be around?

MS: I remember working with Danny Glover and noticed how he just did his job and was possessed by it. Tom Cruise was great, too. Tom was such a nice guy, and actually asked to view a copy of The Red Baron! I couldn’t believe that he actually wanted to see a movie I was in, because growing up, he was my hero. He was very professional, and I love that quality. It’s just wonderful to work with these people because on set, they are 100% about work and extremely concentrated; it is something I love to be around.

IFQ: What are some of your thoughts or feelings on the impact and your work might have on society? And what’s the overall message you want to shine through? You’ve mentioned you want to promote a good message, is this what carries you?

MS: There’s a quote from a German writer, named Brecht, who said, “If you fight, you can lose, but if you don’t fight, you won’t have a chance to win.” It’s about the fact that you have to do something. For me, it’s about doing and entertaining, making movies. Letting other people come to watch you in a movie, letting them indulge in freedom from the mind and relax. They can forget the world in which they live for two or three hours, and maybe they’re a little changed, or inspired to do something great.