The actress Lisa Bitter on people who adhere to conspiracy theories and on the question of whether the TV series “Sleeping Sheep” will still impress them.
Ms. Bitter, can you understand that, as you can see in “Sleeping Sheep”, at some point people start to believe that cameras are installed in the smoke alarms in their homes?
I find that difficult to understand. I can understand that people are worried in the face of the pandemic, like Melanie, who is afraid for the health of her son, who is supposed to wear a mask for several hours every day at school. And which comes across alleged statements by doctors on the Internet, according to which this is not healthy. The question is how to deal with these fears. Melanie feels left alone with it, not picked up. Fears are something subjective, and if you don’t take them seriously, it can happen that those affected start looking for answers themselves and end up getting deeper and deeper into this web of conspiracy and alternative explanations of the world.
There is a scene in the series where someone offers a grotesquely overpriced “special mask” – and Melanie is determined to buy it …
I think the scene is particularly good because it shows what people are willing to pay for an object that takes away their fear and insecurity.
The title “Sleeping Sheep” sounds a bit like a comedy at first – but it’s not that funny what you see and hear …
As in real life, tragedy and humor can be very close together. It depends on the point of view from which you look at what is happening. From my character’s perspective, there is nothing to laugh about.
And accordingly not for the audience either …
In my opinion, humor comes to the rescue when two people quarrel. If that is no longer possible, it will be difficult anyway – like here. In the meantime I hear more and more often about friendships that are on the brink of danger or partnerships that are at risk because one of them denies the danger of Corona.
Now many people who deny Corona or follow conspiracy ideologies are not exactly fans of public service broadcasting. How will they react to the series? Thoughtful – or indignant?
To person:
Lisa Bitter, born in Erlangen in 1984, was seen at various stages after her acting training in Leipzig – from 2009 to 2013 at the Stuttgart State Theater – as well as in films. Since 2014 she has been investigator Johanna Stern at the side of Ulrike Folkerts in the SWR crime scene from Ludwigshafen.
“Sleeping Sheep” is the name of a six-part mini-series (approx. 15 minutes per part) in which Lisa Bitter plays Melanie, Lars’s wife (Daniel Donskoy) and Janosch’s mother (Emil Brosch). Small family life is threatened when Melanie becomes convinced that there is a big conspiracy behind Corona. Who does not recognize this is a “sleep sheep”. The screenplay is by Zarah Schrade, directed by Matthias Thönissen. ZDF Neo shows the series on Thursday night at 0.45 a.m. It will be placed in the media library on Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Maybe both will take place – although I do believe that we can hardly impress those who think like Melanie. Incidentally, for me that is the dangerous thing about this conspiracy belief that it undermines the cornerstones of our democracy. Anyone who believes that there is a mysterious power behind everything that controls us does not believe that citizens have the chance to actively participate in our community. Anyone who thinks this way will not reach our format either. Perhaps it will reach people who are at risk. I hope so, of course.
Do you yourself know people who believe in such conspiracy ideologies?
No, fortunately not in my close circle of friends and acquaintances. I don’t see how I would react to that either. From the experience with this series, I would say that I would be helpless relatively quickly. Because you can see in Melanie that she is no longer accessible to arguments. Everything is conclusive within their world. And outside are the supposedly ignorant, the sleeping sheep.
If that concerned your own partner …
If that were lived out consistently, then it would not be possible for me to have a relationship with someone like that.
Have you had anything to do with colleagues whom you asked yourself about the pandemic: What trip are they on?
In any case, I have already made the experience that the hygiene rules are not taken seriously. On set you have no choice but to stick to the rules, they pay a lot of attention to that. But if you realize that these rules don’t play a role in private for colleagues, then the whole team becomes insecure.
What do you think of your colleagues’ action against the corona measures, in which Ulrike Folkerts also participated?
I distance myself from attitudes that contribute to dividing society. I find the general mood in society to be very tense, which makes it all the more important to me to communicate carefully and sensitively.
Interview: Rudolf Ogiermann
