A girl dies after an arson attack at the traditional Lucia festival on Gotland.
Inspector Anders (Walter Sittler) witnesses the tragedy.

It is mid-December and there is already a Christmas atmosphere. On the darkest day of the year, the Lucia festival is taking place as usual and many of the local residents have come to church. This year they have to watch a catastrophe during the service: the cloak of the Lucia actress suddenly bursts into flames.

Robert Anders (Walter Sittler) is also present at the ceremony with his family. He manages to react with presence of mind and extinguish the flames with his cloak. Thus he is able to save the girl’s life at first, but she dies in the hospital as a result of the severe burns.

The accident investigation turns into a murder investigation. When Robert and Ewa (Inger Nilsson) find out that the cape was soaked with a chemical accelerant, it is clear: it was an assassination attempt.

Initial investigations reveal that another girl was supposed to play Lucia at the party, but she had called in sick the day before. Was the attack possibly meant for her? Or is there a connection to another tragedy that lies like a shadow over the community? Not long ago, a bus accident occurred in the area, killing two girls. The exact circumstances of the accident could not be determined. Is there now a new lead in the old case?

“Lichterfest” is the 25th case of the successful crime series with Walter Sittler in the title role as island commissioner and family man Robert Anders. Recently separated from his wife Emma Winarve (Frida Hallgreen), the investigator continues his efforts to be a good father – also for his stepson Kasper. A surprising decision by the boy at the end of the case shows how close their relationship is.

Since 2006, two cases in the series have been filmed each year at original locations on Gotland. In “Festival of Lights,” the island shows itself from its most wintry side. The series has already been sold by ZDF Enterprise to France, Spain, the Benelux countries, Switzerland, Austria and the USA, among others.

It is produced by Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH Hamburg, Jutta Lieck-Klenke, producer is Moritz Mihm. It was directed by Thomas Roth from a book by André Georgi.

The editorial office at ZDF is Wolfgang Feindt.

Photos: © ZDF / Stephan Rabold

  • Stab

    Drehbuch
    André Georgi

    Regie
    Thomas Roth

    Kamera
    Arthur W. Ahrweiler

    Schnitt
    Birgit Gasser

    Szenenbild
    Andreas Rudolph

    Kostüm
    Helmut Ignaz Meyer

    Casting
    Rebecca Gerling, Charlotte Wandt

    Musik
    Johannes Brandt

    Produktionsleitung
    Vanessa Eggers, Frank Bosselmann

    Herstellungsleitung
    Roger Daute

    Producer
    Moritz Mihm

    Produzentin
    Jutta Lieck-Klenke

    Redaktion
    Wolfgang Feindt



    Die Darsteller

    Walter Sittler
    Andy Gätjen
    Inger Nilsson
    Frida Hallgren
    Grim Lohman
    Johan Marenius Nordahl
    Siw Erixon
    Gustaf Hammarsten
    Ida Gyllensten
    Christian Hillborg
    Pierre Tafvelin
    u.a.