Review of German-Austrian-Czech TV Series 'Sternstunde der Mörder' Set in 1945 Prague

The German-Austrian-Czech television miniseries 'Sternstunde der Mörder,' based on Pavel Kohout's novel, premiered on ARD. Set in Prague in early summer 1945 during the final days of German occupation, the plot follows a serial killer targeting widows, beginning with a German officer's widow. Czech police under German command, led by Commissioner Beran (Karel Dobrý), assign detective Jan Morava (Jonas Nay) to investigate, with further murders of Czech widows occurring. The narrative uses the crimes to reflect mass killings by Nazi occupiers, particularly after the 1942 assassination of Reinhard Heydrich. Characters include SS Standartenführer Meckerle (Devid Striesow), a brutal local commander, and Gestapo agent Erwin Buback (Nicholas Ofczarek), who monitors Morava. As the Prague Uprising erupts on May 5, 1945, violence escalates, including revenge killings against Germans. Directed by Christopher Schier, the series explores themes of personal responsibility and integrity amid chaos, contrasting with shows like 'Babylon Berlin.' Performances by actors such as Jonas Nay and Nicholas Ofczarek are noted, with some dialogue in Czech. The production is a collaboration involving ARD Degeto Film, NDR, Servus TV, Canal+ Austria, and others. Klaus Burck is credited as screenwriter, a pseudonym used by Holger Karsten Schmidt when dissatisfied with the final product.