If you ever come to Munich, the capital of the free-state of Bavaria, you must know two things about Munich: the locals are proud of the city that they themselves call "Minga", but will feel flattered when hearing its Italian name, Monaco. The second thing is that they not only believe their city to be special and different from every other one but they also believe that about themselves. Since it was first aired on German TV, "Monaco Franze" has become part of Bavarian folklore, capturing like few other films or TV shows the essence and soul capital city and although they might not admit it, many locals from Munich will view the character of Monaco Franze as archetypical Munichian and will identify with many of his traits, quirks and characteristics. If you so will, "Monaco Franze" isn't just the story of a man but a study of a city.
"Monaco Franze – Der Ewige Stenz" (Stenz being colloquial speak for womanizer) has been described as a comedy, a satire, a farce but at it's core, the show is not as light as the it pretends to be, exploring the complex German social- and class-hierarchy: Franz Münchinger is a retired policeman, an undeniable proletarian (though he does everything the camouflage that), while his wife, Annette von Soettigen (Ruth-Maria Kubitschek, excellent), representing the upper-class of the bourgeoisie. Franz enjoys to appear as a man of the realm, always knowing which champagne and caviar are the priciest, but inside despising the upper class society, high culture and opera. He also despises hard labour, concentrating on spending his wife's money, womanizing and snappy clothes, through and through a lovable and charming scoundrel. Essentially his life-style, as it must, will take Franz down the only logical path: downhill. The final episode sees Franz and his with his estranged wife reuniting – by now Franz has degenerated into a "Sandler", as the bums living under the bridges are called in Munich are called.
Together with "Kir Royal", "Monaco Franze" remains among the finest mini-series produced in the 80's, a decade that was rich in excellent TV-shows. Helmut Dietl was wise to create this as a limited series, each chapter representing the odyssey of Franz Münchinger from the top to the bottom.
It may be difficult to see the charm (or even reason) of the show if you're not familiar with southern German culture and mentality and doesn't have the borderless appeal of films like "Das Boot" or "Christiane F – Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo" – but if you're already interested in Munich, it's citizens and the Bavarian mentality in general, there's no way to get around "Monaco Franze".
If you're ever in beautiful Munich, after having passed the Hofbraeuhaus or are on your way to spend money on overpriced beer at the Oktoberfest, why don't you go visit him? His counterfeit sits near the Englischer Garten, eternally enjoying the sun and the mild west-wind.
"Monaco Franze – Der Ewige Stenz" (Stenz being colloquial speak for womanizer) has been described as a comedy, a satire, a farce but at it's core, the show is not as light as the it pretends to be, exploring the complex German social- and class-hierarchy: Franz Münchinger is a retired policeman, an undeniable proletarian (though he does everything the camouflage that), while his wife, Annette von Soettigen (Ruth-Maria Kubitschek, excellent), representing the upper-class of the bourgeoisie. Franz enjoys to appear as a man of the realm, always knowing which champagne and caviar are the priciest, but inside despising the upper class society, high culture and opera. He also despises hard labour, concentrating on spending his wife's money, womanizing and snappy clothes, through and through a lovable and charming scoundrel. Essentially his life-style, as it must, will take Franz down the only logical path: downhill. The final episode sees Franz and his with his estranged wife reuniting – by now Franz has degenerated into a "Sandler", as the bums living under the bridges are called in Munich are called.
Together with "Kir Royal", "Monaco Franze" remains among the finest mini-series produced in the 80's, a decade that was rich in excellent TV-shows. Helmut Dietl was wise to create this as a limited series, each chapter representing the odyssey of Franz Münchinger from the top to the bottom.
It may be difficult to see the charm (or even reason) of the show if you're not familiar with southern German culture and mentality and doesn't have the borderless appeal of films like "Das Boot" or "Christiane F – Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo" – but if you're already interested in Munich, it's citizens and the Bavarian mentality in general, there's no way to get around "Monaco Franze".
If you're ever in beautiful Munich, after having passed the Hofbraeuhaus or are on your way to spend money on overpriced beer at the Oktoberfest, why don't you go visit him? His counterfeit sits near the Englischer Garten, eternally enjoying the sun and the mild west-wind.