Leipzig Homicide

Last updated

Leipzig Homicide
Leipzig Homicide Logo.png
Series logo
Also known asSOKO Leipzig
Genre Police procedural
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Theme music composer Georg Kleinebreil
Composers
Country of originGermany
Original languageGerman
No. of seasons25
No. of episodes493
Production
Executive producers
ProducerTanya Momella Mallory
Production locations Leipzig (Reclam-Carrée, Inselstraße)
Cinematography
  • Henning Jessel
  • Constantin Kesting
  • Matthias Papenmeier
EditorMatthias Pfeifer
Camera setupFilm; multiple-camera
Running time44 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network ZDF
Release31 January 2001 (2001-01-31) 
present
Related
SOKO – Der Prozess , "Proof of Life"

Leipzig Homicide (SOKO Leipzig) is a German crime drama television series first broadcast on 31 January 2001 on ZDF. More than 400 episodes have been screened since. On 12 November 2008, the first of a two-part crossover between SOKO Leipzig and British police procedural The Bill , titled "Proof of Life", was aired, with the same version being shown on both ZDF and British television network ITV. [1] Soko Leipzig is the second offshoot of SOKO München , launched in 1978 under the name SOKO 5113. "SOKO" is an abbreviation of the German word Sonderkommission, which means "special investigative team".

Contents

Synopsis

The series details the investigative work done by the special commission of the Leipzig police. The team, consisting of Hajo Trautzschke, Jan Maybach, Ina Zimmermann, and Tom Kowalski, mostly investigates crimes such as murder and manslaughter. They are supported by team assistant Olivia Fareedi, coroners Sabine Rossi and Mara Stein, as well as laboratory assistant Lorenz Rettig and prosecutor Alexander Binz. In cases concerning sexual offenses, Dagmar Schnee is also on the team.

Crossovers

On 3 April 2013, five SOKO teams were brought together for a five-part special titled SOKO – Der Prozess . In it, the teams from Munich, Cologne, Leipzig, Stuttgart, and Wismar have to solve the murder of a police officer. The five episodes were shown across Germany from 30 September to 4 October 2013.

A crossover episode with SOKO Donau , titled "Der vierte Mann", was broadcast on ORF on 2 November 2019 and ZDF on 8 November 2019. The screenplay was based on a true story related to the Viennese political activist Rudolfine Steindling. [2] [3]

Cast and characters

Current

ActorRoleFunctionSeasonsYears
Andreas Schmidt-Schaller Hajo Trautzschkechief inspector1–2001–
Marco Girnth Jan Maybachchief inspector1–2001–
Melanie Marschke Ina Zimmermannchief inspector1–2001–
Steffen Schroeder Tom Kowalskidetective inspector12–222012–2022
Johannes Hendrik Langer Moritz Brennerdetective inspector22–2022–
Anna Stieblich Prof. Dr. Sabine Rossicoroner10–2009–
Michael Rotschopf Dr. Alexander Binzprosecutor11–2011–
Judith Sehrbrock Dr. Mara Steincoroner11–2011–
Daniel Steiner Lorenz Rettiglaboratory assistant12–2012–
Petra Kleinert Dagmar Schneechief inspector (vice squad)13–2013–
Caroline Scholze Leni Maybach born: Trautzschkedaughter of Hajo, wife of Jan1–2001–
Maximilian Klas Benni Maybachson of Jan1–2001–

Former

ActorRoleFunctionSeasonsYears
Gabriel Merz Miguel Alvarez †detective inspector1–72001–2006
Tyron Ricketts Patrick Diego Grimmdetective inspector7–102006–2009
Pablo Sprungala Vincent Beckerdetective inspector-candidate10–122009–2012
Anne Arzenbacher Meike Schwarzpolice master5–6, 8, 132005–2006, 2008, 2012
Nilam Farooq Olivia Fareedidetective inspector13–192013–2019
Silke Heise Dr. Sandra Schönfeldcoroner1–32001–2003
Margrit Sartorius Dr. Kathrin Conradicoroner3–112003–2010
Michael Brandner Dr. Manfred Woernlepolice senior councillor11–13, 162010–2012, 2015

Episodes

Main cast of SOKO Leipzig (2006-2009) Sokoleipzig.jpg
Main cast of SOKO Leipzig (2006–2009)
Main cast of SOKO Leipzig (2012-) SOKO Leipzig Darsteller 2014.jpg
Main cast of SOKO Leipzig (2012–)
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired (Germany)
Season premiereSeason finale
11231 January 200118 April 2001
21023 January 200227 March 2002
31825 September 200228 March 2003
42017 October 20032 April 2004
51117 December 200418 March 2005
62116 September 200519 May 2006
71529 September 200619 January 2007
81624 October 200711 April 2008
9313 October 20085 June 2009
10184 September 200926 March 2010
112324 September 201011 March 2011
122314 October 201130 March 2012
132216 November 201222 March 2013
SOKO – Der Prozess 530 September 20134 Oktober 2013
142025 October 201321 February 2014
152119 September 201413 February 2015
16202 October 201519 February 2016
172616 September 201624 February 2017
181613 October 201716 February 2018
192214 September 201822 February 2019
201418 October 201914 February 2020
SOKO – Der vierte Mann 18 November 2019
212228 August 20205 March 2021

Shooting locations and sets

Special

SOKO Leipzig headquarters SOKO Leipzig Inselstrasse.jpg
SOKO Leipzig headquarters

In April 2013, a five-part crossover between five ZDF SOKO series, titled SOKO – Der Prozess , began filming. The teams included in the show are 5113 , Cologne , Leipzig, Stuttgart , and Wismar .

See also

References

  1. Stephen Armstrong (2 November 2008). "The Bill meets SOKO Leipzig – Times Online". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  2. ""Soko Donau"–Spezial: Leipzig zu Gast in Wien" ["Soko Donau" special: Leipzig as a guest in Vienna]. kurier.at (in German). 31 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  3. "ORF-1-Premiere für erstes "Soko Donau"-Crossover "Der vierte Mann"" [ORF-1 premiere for the first "Soko Donau" crossover "The Fourth Man"]. ots.at (in German). 31 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2022.