Blogpost by Nele Feuring Johann “Rukeli” Trollmann in “Babylon Berlin”: On the Interplay between History, Remembrance and Fictionalisation
Babylon Berlin is the most expensive German television production to date. Directed by Tom Tykwer, Achim von Borries and Henk Handloegten, and produced by X Filme Creative Pool, the series premiered in 2017 and has enjoyed international success ever since. Set in Berlin during the late Weimar Republic, it explores the social, political and cultural upheavals of the late 1920s – a period now remembered both as an artistic golden age and as a prelude to impending catastrophe. Occasionally, historical figures are also featured in the series under their real names – including the Sinto boxer Johann ‘Rukeli’ Trollmann. In her blog post, Nele Feuring examines how Trollmann is portrayed in the series and how his story is told.
