LESUNG: Jörg Hartmann - "Der Lärm des Lebens"

He describes his childhood memories in a way that is as touching as it is vivid, spanning the story of his deaf grandparents during the Nazi era all the way to his own parents. The story touches on his mother’s worldly wisdom—she ran a snack stand for a short time—as well as his father’s dementia; his father was a lathe operator and a passionate handball player. A narrative that straddles the line between tragedy and comedy, balancing on the narrow axis between these two poles without losing its footing. This is due in no small part to Hartmann’s powerful narrative voice, which comes across as personal and humorous—yet without drifting into sentimentality. Underlying it all is the question: Why do we keep returning to our roots? For the actor, the primary concern is to capture the beauty of life in its entirety—from beginning to end, from the cradle to the grave. A wise, story-rich book about origins and home—and the desire to break free from them and set out into the world. An *Éducation sentimentale* and, almost as an aside, a history of the mindset of the Federal Republic of Germany.
“Incredibly witty and utterly hilarious… Here is a book written by someone who goes through life with his heart.” (Christine Westermann, Stern)
About Jörg Hartmann: Jörg Hartmann is one of Germany’s most prominent character actors. Born in 1969, he grew up in Herdecke, in the Ruhr region. After completing his acting training and appearing in various theater productions, he became a member of the ensemble at Berlin’s Schaubühne in 1999. Television productions such as “Weissensee” and the Dortmund episode of “Tatort,” in which he plays Inspector Faber, brought him to the attention of a wide audience; on the big screen, he has appeared in films such as “Wilde Maus” and, most recently, “Sonne und Beton.” Jörg Hartmann has received numerous awards, including the German Television Award, the Golden Camera, and the Grimme Prize. He wrote the screenplay for the “Tatort” episode “Du bleibst hier” (2023). He has three children and lives with his family in Potsdam.