Tausend Zeilen (2022) - full transcript

THIS MOVIE IS FICTIONAL.

BUT A LOT OF IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

ALTHOUGH WE DID MAKE UP MOST OF IT.

HONESTLY!

My name is Juan Romero.

I'm a freelance journalist
and have a wife and four kids.

Here's how my youngest daughter
would describe my job:

"Daddy's always away,
and when he's home,

he types things into his computer."

I tried to explain that,
as a reporter, you travel a lot,

so you can tell people
about what's going on in the world.



She just looked at me,
wide-eyed, and said,

"You can look it all up
on the internet."

But the truth
is a bit more complicated.

I'm currently writing for CHRONIK,
Europe's largest news magazine.

The web bombards us with information -

loud, in-your-face, free of charge.

The CHRONIK still does proper research.

Credibility is top priority here.

Quality journalism is in crisis, though.

Print sales and advertising revenue
are plummeting.

To make money with magazines,
you need something special,

like gripping, emotional exclusives.

And the CHRONIK has just the man:

Lars Bogenius.



The new superstar in journalism.

The CHRONIK's top dog -

young, successful, popular.

His nickname: Lovely Lars.

We were just talking about you, Lars.

And a decorated legend on top.

We missed you at the editorial meeting.

I know, I'm sorry.
I had to look after my sister.

Is she still not better?

Afraid not. But I won't bore you...

We heard you have a new story pitch.
- Yes.

Join us for lunch?

These two adoring gentlemen
are Head of Features Rainer Maria Habicht

and Deputy Editor-in-Chief
Christian Eichner.

They've hit the jackpot
with Lars Bogenius.

He just writes the most awesome features,

like the one on football player
Colin Kaepernick.

He became famous for protesting
against racism in the U.S.

by not standing for the national anthem
and instead taking the knee.

Lars Bogenius was the only journalist
granted an interview

with Kaepernick's adoptive parents.

Bogenius also tracked down Maroof Atassi,

who years ago wrote
"You're next, Doctor" on a wall,

aimed at Prime Minister Assad.

Incredibly, the boy's graffiti
triggered the war in Syria.

And the world learned about it
from Lars Bogenius,

a reporter who writes
about Aleppo's children,

but also raises money
for them in Germany.

Brilliant at his job,
with a moral compass.

A dying breed.

I'm calling it,
this young man is our magazine's future.

SOUTHERN MEXICO

This is where I enter the frame.

Se?or, are you free?

Sure.

Follow the refugees.

Don't tell him we're journalists.

We're journalists.
- Great.

It gets enough press, gringo.

But if you insist... 90 dollars.
- 10.

Hey!
- Are you crazy?

50 dollars.
- Let's go.

Blackmailing bastard.

Rainer.
- Romero.

Would you consider
staying in Mexico a little longer?

Why not.

Alright, now listen.

We're gonna crank it up.

This small refugee story
you're working on,

let's pump it up, let's go bigger.

Is he totally insane?
- What?

The driver, doesn't matter.

It does matter. Tell him I'm gonna puke.

So we tell the story
from two different perspectives.

An American living near the border,

member of a militia,
Trump voter, obviously,

hunting down illegals with his buddies,

all to protect his beloved country.

Shit!

Exactly.

Then, a woman from, let's say...

Honduras?

One of those corrupt shithole countries.
- He's insane.

Ideally a single mother traveling alone,

carrying her little daughter,
walking thousands of miles

to reach the country of her dreams.

Traffickers get her across the border,

which is being defended
by the U.S. militia...

Rainer, if I understood you correctly,

this all sounds very specific.

Of course it does. You think
we sit scratching our balls all day?

Clear remit, clear results.

We'll make it a cover story.
What do you say?

A cover story?

Give me two days to find a woman,

I'll then cross and look into the militia.

This is gonna be big, Juan.

You're collaborating
with Bogenius on this.

I can write it on my own.

I'll fly to Phoenix...
- He's coming back.

Bogenius is in Arizona.

Assholes!

What?

It's my story, let me write it, I can...

I've no time for vanity, Romero.

All I need is a good supplier.

Silvia?
- A supplier?

Bogenius does the U.S. part
and you do Mexico.

So...

Do we have a deal,
or should I send someone else?

Well...
- Great stuff.

It's gonna be awesome.

I've worked my ass off for years
and he makes me a supplier.

Listen, Mr. Supplier,
we'll be lucky to get out of this alive.

Hello?

Lars, my friend.
Romero is doing Mexico.

How are you getting on?

Well, to be honest,

it's really tough going.

Those guys are extremely cautious.

But I managed to find a contact.

I'll scope out this border militia...
"Border Wolves".

They're pretty wild guys.

Lars, you're doing
an amazing job out there.

I'm trying my best.

Taking on this feature,
in spite of the circumstances.

Yes, it's unbearably hot here.

No, I meant your sister...

My sister?

Oh, I didn't mean to...

No, it's fine.

Last weekend I...

took her to the movies.

It was so great to see her laugh again.

It's those moments
that give us strength, both of us.

But, Mr. Habicht...
- Hold on.

Yes?

My name's Rainer.

Yes, I know.

Please, call me Rainer.
- Thank you.

You're welcome.

So when can you send the first drafts?

Well, you know, Mr...

Hold on.
- Oh, yes... Rainer.

We may have bitten off
more than we can chew with this one.

They're total extremists,

fanatics,

finger always on the trigger.

You can't approach them easily.

I'm not sure I can crack them.

Lars, if anyone can, you can.

This story's going to be massive.

MEANWHILE

2,329 MILES FURTHER SOUTH

I need to get out.

Here we are, gentlemen.

Right.

Excuse me, please.

I'm a journalist and would like
to ask you some questions.

No, thank you.

I just want to talk.
- No, no.

Sorry, pardon me.
- No, I'm sorry, my fault.

Thank you.
- Cute kid.

Thank you.

I'm a father of four.

Lilly, Elsa... Pia and Jule.

May I ask you a few questions?

I'm a journalist from Germany.

You journalists write
whatever you want anyway.

No idea why the cops
turn up here every week.

We abide by the law.

What law?
- The law.

There's only one.
- You mean yours?

DEPUTY HEAD OF FEATURES

Answer it, sister.

It's just a friend.

Your boyfriend?

A friend.

Friends are important.

Can I call you back?

From one half-breed to another,
doesn't Habicht like me?

Why wouldn't he?

Why do I have to be Bogenius's supplier?

I've been doing this
ten years longer than him,

I'm no rookie.
- Can we talk later?

But I could have...

I could have done this job on my own.

Of course, but Lars is just...

Is your friend jealous?

Let's just say he did it.

Did what?

He met those guys.

Bogenius did?
- Yes.

He's with the militia?
- Yes.

I gotta go.

How'd he manage that so quickly?
Crazy, huh?

What's even crazier,
I got a text earlier.

I have to go to Arizona
to take photos for Bogenius.

Lucky devil.

Who's the lucky one?

You get to jet back home,
snuggle up to your wife and kids,

and write your kickass Mexico part.

You've got some great photos.
- Asshole.

I know.

Go safe.
- Sure.

And I'll send you a link to a documentary.

"Along the Border",
great research material, check it out.

Will do. Thanks.

Have a good flight.

He's coming, quick, hide!

Hello?

I made an extra big effort
to get home on time,

before my kids are off to school.

Shush!

That's the door.

Arriba...

Daddy!
- My little monsters.

Don't break him.

Do we know her?
- No!

Good to have you back.
- Yuck!

Should we keep him?
- Lucky me.

Now off to school.

But Pia is poorly,
so Daddy will put her back to bed.

Oh, my darling.

I lost my shoe...

She says he smells.

Are we celebrating?
- Yeah, your cover story.

With Bogenius.

I missed you.

It's you who's always away.

Not anymore.

Really?
- Yes.

I don't even remember what you feel like.

What are you two doing?

Daddy desperately needs a shower.

Yep.
- Are you taking your new friend?

Daddy will have a shower,
you go back to the monster den.

I don't want to.

I'd never seen anything like it.

They call them "jumping cholla cacti".

They have these nasty little spikes,
liked barbed hooks.

If you go near them...

What?

So I'd prefer to stand
for today's meeting.

That's the kind of detail
that lets readers feel the story.

Dear Lars, thanks for your work
and I look forward to the article.

Now then, Dirk, how was your weekend
with the Social Democrats?

At the super-exciting party conference.

Let me just remind you all.

Everyone in this room
writes features for the CHRONIK.

We're the avant-garde
of German journalism.

We don't just inform,
we mold reality into stories.

We give readers a guiding hand

and help them comprehend their reality,
intellectually and emotionally.

It's what makes us unique.

We don't waste our time
at party conferences.

That's current affairs,
it's got nothing to do with any of us.

Leave it to the fact guys in Politics.

Seriously, we're done with that stuff.

Sorry.

Thanks, Rainer, thank you.

I'm sure you wonder why I'm interrupting
such an important meeting.

I just had a call from our publishers,

informing me
that the sales figures for our magazine...

how should I put this?

...have bucked the general trend.

And, even better,
according to our research...

Champagne?
- I have green tea, thanks.

...our most popular articles
are your features. Congrats.

We owe this to -
apart from the whole Features team -

one young writer.

Lars Bogenius.

Thanks, I really appreciate it.
But I'm only one of many.

You're great colleagues,
I could never have done it without you.

All the talks we've had,
the discussions...

Like with you, Dirk.

They've always helped me immensely.

Dirk, I value the contribution
of you and your team.

Thanks a lot.

So, dear colleagues,

soon, this department
will have even more sparkle.

Right, let me explain
what's happening right now.

In a few weeks, Christian Eichner
will be Editor-in-Chief.

He made Rainer Maria Habicht his deputy,

so Habicht will be Deputy Editor-in-Chief.

Lars Bogenius will also get promoted.

He'll be Head of Features,

taking over from Rainer Maria Habicht.

The only person
completely in the dark about all this

was me.

I was putting my kids to bed.

Arriba!

Aren't you going to help Daddy?
- No!

I'm surrounded by monsters!

Monsters!

Hi Juan, hope you got back okay.

I'm attaching a first draft,
so you get an idea

what the story might look like,

what should go where

and where the junctures are.

I envisage the following structure:

gringos - trek -
gringos - trek - gringos - trek.

So three parts in Mexico in total.

Take a look. I think it could work.

Regards, Lars.

JAEGER'S FRONTIER / U.S. PART

One night, while thousands of people
trek across the Mexican plateau,

carrying backpacks or small children,

harboring good or bad intentions,

northwards to the big frontier,

1,200 miles away, in Arizona,

on a hill separating the Mexican desert
from the United States,

six men in military uniforms
prepare for the invasion.

Clad in ammunition belts,

they await with automatic weapons
and body armor.

One of them goes by the name of Pain.

He smokes cigars and wants to

"kick the asses
of the devils trying to invade the USA",

echoing Donald Trump.

Another is called Luger, after the gun.

He flies a drone south,
to monitor enemy movements.

Three others - Spartan, Nailer and Ghost -

have hoisted the American flag upside down,

a symbol for the nation's state of emergency.

Shit...

Damn it...

Yes? What? Who?

I just received Bogenius's copy.

So you call in the middle of the night?
- Those guys are batshit crazy.

Reads like a comic book.
Were they messing with you?

I've no idea.

What do you mean?

Can you send me your photos?

I don't have any.

Why not?

I never went there.
- Why not?

Bogenius said
they refused to be photographed.

He didn't want to lose the story.

So there's no photos, okay?
Pretty annoying.

So it was just him?
- I guess.

Any more questions? Alright then.

I'm switching to flight mode.

Good night.

What a total... shit...

Hey Lars, thanks for your email.

Those guys sound insane.

Let's talk later.

In the meantime,
here's my part of the story.

JAEGER'S FRONTIER / MEXICAN PART
BY JUAN ROMERO

You wanted to see me?
- Lars. Great. Come in.

Come over here.

Awesome view, right?

It's very impressive.

By the way...

I've got a little surprise for you.

We submitted your feature on that
Syrian boy for the German Press Award.

Wow, thanks, Rainer.

Don't mention it.

Just one more thing.

Take a seat.

That thing with Dirk yesterday...

It didn't really go very well.

But I think Dirk is...

Excuse me. Dirk!

Yes?
- There are thousands of Dirks out there.

There's them and there's us.

You got to hire the best.

Ditch the deadwood.

Up here, you can't afford
to be sentimental.

I wanted to talk to you about that.

I lay awake all night.

I...

I know it's a huge honor...

I was delighted
to be offered your position.

And?

It somehow doesn't feel right anymore.

How do you mean?

Rainer, I'm not sure I can deliver.

Of course you can.

You think so?
- Definitely. Come on.

Besides, I'm still here.

If you have any problems, just come to me.

The girls wanted to surprise you.

That's sweet of them.

GOOD MORNING DADDY
WE LOVE YOU

And I have something to discuss.

You know I've been looking
for a studio for my food blog?

Homemade?

It's just too cramped here.

You know why.
- Why?

Because the kids run riot.
- Sure.

I finally found a space.

I'm meeting the bank tomorrow
about a loan.

I've done the math and it could work.

It'll be tight, but I think we can do it.

I might have to blow the bank guy though.

Read this.

Juan, please straighten out your part,
I can't do it all.

We need a tighter narrative,

factual character portraits,
precise locations,

more meaningful scenarios,
we can't picture life along the trail.

Your Mexican part just isn't ready yet.

Why don't you emulate my style?

JAEGER'S FRONTIER / U.S. PART
BY LARS BOGENIUS

Dawn breaks above Arizona.

The sun starts to illuminate the desert.

The men of Altar Valley
slept out below the stars,

hugging their rifles tight.

While Spartan and Jaeger kept watch,

all through the night.

A few hundred times, Jaeger says,

they've captured foreigners
creeping up from the south at night

and tied them up or fired warning shots
to drive them away.

They once caught
a teenager from El Salvador,

and his punishment was
to run back through the desert,

with no shoes or water.

Another time, recounts Jaeger,
near Brownsville, Texas,

they made three Mexican women
who had backpacks full of cocaine

freeze in the mountains for two nights

before handing them over to border police.

Jaeger says he now knows what's what.

He heard - not on Fox News, but on CNN -

that, this year alone, 400,000
illegal migrants crossed the border,

smuggling drugs
worth 60 billion dollars into the country,

and that last year, over 70,000
people died of a drug overdose.

More than ever before.

Jaeger calls what America
is facing at this latitude...

"A battle for survive."

He's not sure
if what lurks in the valley below

is animal or human.

Maybe he believes it's up to him to do

what Trump's soldiers aren't allowed to.

Maybe he refuses to believe
Trump's words were just electioneering.

The rifle rests on his shoulder.
He has no target.

Jaeger squints in the darkness.

He cannot see.

And eventually...

Insane.

He was there when they were shooting?

Who knows what those guys are like?

Extremists, deranged veterans...

Come on,
they won't let Milo take pictures,

but Bogenius
can watch them shoot at people?

It's a great story.

Dear Lars, thanks for your comments.

First off, before I forget,

my sincere congratulations.

It usually takes weeks, if not months,

to gain the trust of a militia
and be able to accompany them.

Hats off for achieving this in three days.

But still, I have a few questions.

What were their names?

Nailer? Pain?

Luger? Spartan?

Ghost?

Sound like wrestlers.

You're sure they carry
an arsenal like that in the desert,

and act like a bunch of unhinged cowboys?

They chase a tied-up, barefooted boy
into the desert without any water?

Don't the border police ask questions

when some hillbillies
hand over three women with bags of coke?

Do they get internet in the desert?

I mean, for watching Trump videos.

Are you serious?

They shot people before your very eyes?

Don't you just hate smartasses?

I mean, come on.
Everything we write is rigorously checked.

By our documentation department.

The CHRONIK's fact-checking department
is the world's largest.

No other magazines bother anymore.

Fact-checkers
are a journalist's natural enemies.

Their premise is not to believe
anything us editors write.

Documentation isn't even
part of the content team.

It's an independent department.

This allows fact-checkers
to evaluate our copy

in a neutral and unbiased manner.

Hey, I got you something.

Immense joy. Thanks, buddy.

He loves that sweet shit.

How's your mom,
still in intensive care?

Yup, still there.

Oh. Damn.

And what about your sister?

Slowly getting better.

She's staying with me for now.

Want one?

Immense joy. Thanks, buddy.

Documentation, Osterom.

Hey, Romero.

Yes, I checked it all,
it wasn't that much.

All facts are verified.

Arizona's in the U.S.
and has a border with Mexico and a desert.

The Trump speech is quoted correctly
and there's no other National Anthem.

Anything that can be factually verified
has been factually verified.

How about what the guys claim
about shooting?

Nuts, isn't it?

They shoot at people.

He never writes that.

I guess he's right.

They fire their guns
and the article suggests it's at people.

I wasn't there, Romero.

I need to trust the reporters
on what they experienced.

I can't just come along.

You could suggest it to the boss, though.

Okay, thanks.

He did what?
- It's okay, Juan's a brilliant colleague.

I just happened to pass
by Documentation and overheard...

Don't get me wrong,
I don't want to badmouth a colleague.

I just heard Juan discussing
my copy with the fact-checker.

My writing.

Behind your back?
- Yes.

How should I react?

I respect Juan, but he can't just...
- Absolutely not.

No evidence, just probing... nagging.

I'll take care of it.

Thanks, Rainer.

And Lars...

In a few weeks' time,
you decide who you want to work with.

"Icke", the homeless magazine.

Can I have a magazine?

You got a message, Daddy.

SEE LAYOUT ATTACHED

I'll buy one.
- Thank you.

"Icke" magazine.
- Ticket inspection.

"Icke" anyone?

Not him as well.
- Sorry?

The homeless magazine.
- Could you pay?

You won't get off that easy.
- Can I call you back?

Tickets, please.

Can you wait a second?
- No, I can't.

You want me to get an appointment?

Everyone is talking at me.

I can't hear a word.

This could get unpleasant.
- Everyone out.

Good idea.
- Come on.

Have you seen the layout?

Yes, I have.

I take it you have no ticket?
ID, please.

Daddy...
- Wait.

I'll cut to the chase.

Trying to screw over Lars
by calling Documentation...

Sorry, Rainer,
I wanted to straighten it out with Lars.

There might be some errors.

"Might be"? I need specifics.

Daddy...

Quiet! Daddy's on a call.

No need to shout at the girl.

What was that?

Are all these your kids?
- Yes.

I would need to see your evidence.

We need solid research.

Kids under six travel free.

Anyone over six
moves up to the next tariff.

How old are your three kids?
- Four.

Four years old?
- Four kids.

You can thank Lars
for correcting your text.

Well, I only see three kids here.

Why does it have to be
this neighborhood?

That's why we're here, Mr. Karsunke.

Let me show you why
it's the perfect location for my business.

The grassy patch over there,

let me show you...

we'll set up a permaculture garden.

Ellie, the documents, please.
- Yes.

The location surrounded by
old warehouses is perfect.

We'll put the studio and the office
on the first floor.

Ellie, can you take this?

Hello?
- It's part of the premises.

Oh, it's you.
- We'll set up a studio for our blogs.

Anne?
- In a minute.

In a minute.

A minute won't work.

Excuse me. Why don't you have a read?

You do know I'm busy...

You did what?

Daddy left me on the bus.

Oh, my poor darling.
That was some outing.

We dodged the fare.
- Really?

And you got ice cream
'cause Daddy felt guilty.

Relax, Anne.

Go wash your faces.

Good that Mommy sewed
her phone number into your clothes,

so the uncle on the bus,

who happened to be nice,
could phone Mommy.

She was on her own for ten minutes.

You had one job -

look after the kids
so I can talk to the bank.

The bank?
- You never listen.

And you can't handle two things at once.

There was a damn ticket inspector.

And Habicht called because of Bogenius.

That damn name again.

It's important.

You know what's important?

Your kids.

Our family. I am important.

Great. And what about me?

Think about it.

My sister still isn't used to all this,
but as we sat there...

it was like the old days.

She actually ordered a second sundae.

Her first ice cream in two years,

can you imagine?

She's got a long way to go,
but we'll get there.

I'm really happy for you.

I have some good news too.

What's that?

"We're delighted to inform you
that your article 'Child's Play'

has been shortlisted
for the German Press Award."

What?

The world's your oyster,
my fair-haired friend.

Let me give you a hug.

Enjoy it.

It won't last forever.

Say, isn't your sister a diabetic?

Yes.

They have a great selection for diabetics.

What are you doing here?

We love you lots and lots, Daddy.

And Mommy will love you again tomorrow.

I need to go pee.

You're right, I'm an idiot.

That's why you woke me up?

I already knew that.

How are we gonna spend
the rest of the evening?

What's that sexy number?

I didn't know the evening
would turn out quite this racy.

Did you know

that 59% of couples with children

stop having regular sex?

I watched a documentary
on Germans' love lives,

It was sad.
- A what?

Good job I'm married to a Spaniard.

Shit, the documentary...

You going to call me every night now?

Remember the guy
from the documentary you sent me?

Yes, what about him?

Let me show you something.

Oh, come on.

This is the layout I was sent today.

And the guy in Bogenius's copy

is the same as
the one in the documentary.

Only that Bogenius calls him Nailer,

while in the documentary
he's Jack Webber.

Hang on a second,
let me get this straight.

The guy is in
a globally screened documentary,

but refuses to be photographed?

Weird, isn't it?

The CHRONIK employs
the brightest minds in the industry.

They don't just report on German politics,

they shape it.

The opinions readers form on China

or on American foreign policy

are devised here.

The knights at this round table

are the heroes
of generations ofjournalists.

Warriors whose pens
are mightier than any sword.

We get close up, right where it matters.

The music is a placeholder,
we actually got... who?

Morituri.
- Morituri, awesome band.

They did the advert for...
- It's still confidential.

Oh, I'm not allowed to say. But it's big.

I need to see Rainer Maria Habicht.

But Rainer didn't order a cab.

I'm a colleague.

I see.

We cannot choose
where we find our stories.

But we owe it to our readers
to portray life even when it hurts.

Where did you shoot the refugee center?
- On our studio backlot.

Then it's faked.

We do adverts, not documentaries.
- Looks totally real.

We can take it out.
- No, it looks great.

We are the CHRONIKlers of reality,
exposing the truth.

Each line is rigorously checked.

What, now?

We never shy away...
- I'll be right back.

What are you doing here?

You can't publish the article.
- What?

This is "Nailer" in our article.

The same guy features
in a well-known documentary,

except there he's called Jack Webber.

And?

Something's wrong with Lars's copy.

Excuse me?
- It's a mistake.

You come here claiming Lars made stuff up?

I didn't say that, but this is an error.

We can't publish falsities.

Got any evidence?

Well... the names.

They're stupid names,
they can be verified.

You spoke to Documentation?
- Yes.

And?

The facts are okay, but...
- Then why bother me?

This here is important.

Because I...
- Romero.

I'm going back in there.

Ease off and stop getting on my nerves.

We portray the complexities of our world,

we shine a spotlight, we ask questions,

and we take a stand.

Everything okay?
- Yes, all good.

If you ask me why I write this,

I do it because it's the truth,
and people need to know.

CHRONIK
THE MAGAZINE

The truth. Nothing else.

It's good. It's good, isn't it?

It's good.

But you need to work on the music.

Yes, I agree.

CUBA

A short flight from the
picturesque seaside town of Baracoa,

which attracts sunseekers
even now in winter,

guard towers, barracks

and mile-long fences
emerge in the distance.

Looking tense, my pilot, Cirilo,

lands our propeller aircraft
at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.

Nah, that won't work.

A beautiful vintage taxi takes me from
Havana to the other side of the island.

Looking relaxed, my driver, Cirilo...

Hi Lars, Rainer here.

Listen, Romero is breaking my balls,

asking stupid questions.

Can you deal with it?

Looking relaxed, my driver, Cirilo,

steers the 1950s Cadillac de Ville

through the rugged Cuban landscape.

Just as we sense
the salty air of the Caribbean,

guard towers, barracks

and mile-long fences
emerge in the distance:

Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.

COOKING WITH KIDS

Smells yucky.
- Looks great.

Now it looks even better.

Alright, girls. When we shoot this,
I need you to be very quiet.

Okay?
- Yes.

Juan?

Juan.
- Yes?

Can you take the girls?
- Yes, Ma'am.

Do you love each other again?
- Of course.

Told you.
- Excuse me.

This is Romero.

Got something to tell me?

Lars.

Well?

Well what?

What did you want to tell me?
- You called me.

I heard you have questions.
- I do.

So why didn't you just call me?

Instead of whining to Habicht?

Whatever... So it's about names?
- Among other things.

I wrote you an email.
- Yeah, I read it.

Ever considered
these guys might use fake names?

Changing their aliases at will?

Lars, the stuff they say...
I just can't imagine it.

Your lack of imagination isn't my problem.

Here's the deal.
I compile and edit our copy, okay?

Not my idea, it came from the top.
I'd rather work alone too.

Sure, but...

No buts. Your behavior
is unprofessional and unacceptable.

Besides, it could be a way better article
if your part wasn't so poor.

Excuse me?

And why do your emails suggest
there are irregularities?

Because there are.

What you told Habicht
borders on defamation.

Now hold on...
- I'm not your enemy, okay?

I'm just trying - not my words -

to "save your mediocre writing."

So why the grudge?

Jealous? Or just stupid?

I'm doing all this for both of us.
- But...

Bogenius?

Yes.

Bizarre conversation.

All accusations,
not answering a single question.

Maybe there's nothing to answer.

He's hiding something.

And what might that be?

No idea.

He met these militia guys.

Maybe they told him some boring shit.

It doesn't sound boring.

Exactly, because you can't do boring
in the CHRONIK,

least of all Bogenius.

So he exaggerates,
embellishes, enriches...

Wow, that's a massive accusation.
- Yes.

And if it's true,
I'm massively implicated.

You know how I feel right now?

Stop right there!

Drive!
- Shit...

Who'll get fired first?

The permanent superstar reporter

or the freelance Spaniard
who gets mistaken for a cab driver?

I suggest you calm down
while I finish my shoot next door.

Okay?

Yasmin.

No way, Juan,
please don't drag me into this.

You're the only person I can talk to.

I'm not sure I like this.

The article cannot go to print
before it's been properly checked.

BORDERLINE

This is hitting the shelves tonight.

You can't be serious.

Yasmin, this is a disaster.

It's not reputable journalism.

Let me summarize.

I'm the co-author
of a probably fake cover story

in Europe's biggest news magazine.

I need to get to the press conference.
Don't take it the wrong way.

So what do I do?

You're a reporter, my friend. Do your job.

The way I see it, I have one chance
of extracting myself from this.

By being the first to get the evidence.

What have I actually done to you?

The article has been published
as the cover story.

Can I come over?

WAR ON DRUGS

So, what about Jack Webber?

He got back to me. For 200 dollars
he'll do an interview with pictures.

We don't pay our sources.

Oh well...

I'm just saying.

Okay, let me do a recap.

The article says Chris Jaeger is over 50.

According to our research,
Jason Miller is only 42.

For him to have a 30-year-old daughter
who was turned into a drug addict,

he would have had to be a father at 12.

I know it's theoretically possible
to become a father at 12, but...

seriously.

Okay, it could just be a typo.

The article says they captured refugees

and kept them for four days
in the mountains near Brownsville, Texas.

There are no mountains there.

Brownsville, Texas, is on the Rio Grande.
It's flat as a pancake.

In the documentary,
Webber says they don't shoot at people.

Bogenius has them shooting at Latinos.

Following Pablo Escobar's death in 1993,

the Medell?n Cartel in Colombia collapsed.

Bogenius claims that Colombians
were still fleeing from Escobar in 1999.

It's total bullshit.

RE: INCONSISTENCIES
IN THE NEW COVER STORY

Why can't I send this email?

Because you're cutting off
the hand that feeds you?

Screw it.

SENDING...

Can you please go home now?

It's regrettable
Juan refuses to cooperate.

I reached out
but he turned his back.

Why?

He won't find anything,

at least nothing major
or anything I can't disprove.

It's all so futile.

And he senses it.

It makes him unhappy,

stressed,

unreasonable.

Daddy, dinner's getting cold.

I'll be right there.

We're all waiting for you.

I said I'll be right there!

What did I tell you?

Well?

He'll be right there.

He always says that.

I'm not cooking for Daddy again.

Me neither.

Play the monster song.

Can't I get any quiet in this house?

You should try this, it's delicious.

You start eating.

We can't eat without Daddy.

What the hell was that?

You've no idea what's going on.

I see what's going on,
you shout at your kids,

and act like a stubborn ass
who just wants to be right.

I want vindication. This is a cover story,
and that guy is just making shit up!

Apparently, I'm the only one who cares.

The noble Romero,
savior of German journalism.

You can talk, with your food porn.

At least my food porn
is going to pay our rent

after you've been fired!

Oops.

Daddy said "shit".

You will be taking
this painting with you, won't you?

Of course.

It's a Jean-Pierre Lumumba,
first African in the MoMa. Historic.

I'm taking the furniture too.

Sure, I'll find some wooden crates
to put in here.

What about this email?

What if there's something to it?

That guy's like a rabid squirrel.

Every time you walk past,
he jumps you and bites you in the neck.

It's so annoying.

Just in theory, what if Romero's right?

Christian, come on,
how long have we known each other?

15 years?

I'm not an amateur,
we verified everything.

That's Bogenius's response
to Romero's accusations.

Ten pages, refuting each point in turn.

You read all this?

What? Of course.

It's all good then.

Indeed.

Because if Romero was onto something here,

you'd have a problem.

Why me?

Because you're Head of Features.

But it was you who hired Bogenius.

Now listen to me.

In two months, we're in charge here.

I don't need any internal feuds.

Resolve this in-house
before that Spanish smartass kicks off.

Your department, your responsibility.

I wouldn't want you
to order any wooden crates in vain.

Hello, Juan,

thanks for your email.

I'll cut to the chase.

We had a close look at the last few weeks,

and are very disappointed.

The attacks on Lars Bogenius
and on our magazine in general,

these allegations, accusations,

all without any concrete evidence...

Please come and see us
in the office on Friday. Rainer.

What does he mean, "without evidence"?

You got plans this week?

Why?

Hello. This is the mailbox of Yasmin Sal?.
Please leave a message.

Yasmin, this is Juan.

I don't mean to bug you,
but please call me back.

Ecological balance,
struggling small businesses,

I couldn't give a damn.

What's that doing in our magazine?

Sorry to interrupt. Yasmin?

Phone call for you. Romero.

I'm busy.

He called three times already.
It's urgent.

Discreet as ever.

Why call my office?
- You don't answer your phone.

It's on silent. I'm in a meeting.

Didn't you get my email?

You haven't replied.

You're in serious trouble.

From one half-breed to another,
Bogenius can refute all your claims.

If you don't present anything new
on Friday, you're screwed.

They're all staring at me,
so I'm hanging up, okay?

Well?

What did she say?

Weirdo...

Aren't you going to pick up at some point?

She does know where we are, though?

You think it'll help
if you keep ignoring her?

You remember Clara?

My ex?

We were married for three years,

two of which I spent traveling for work.

It was a really cool time.

When we were together,
we screwed like there's no tomorrow.

We didn't talk much, to be honest.

Eventually, she said
she wanted kids, a family.

I didn't take it seriously at first.

But after a while,
I realized Clara was the love of my life.

So, I got back from a trip to Peru

and bought her the flowers
she always liked.

But when I got home, the place was empty.

Just a note on the kitchen table.
Know what it said?

"Go fuck your cameras instead."

Maybe I should have answered
more of her calls.

GERMAN PRESS AWARDS

Ladies and gentlemen,

the German Press Awards
will commence shortly.

Please make your way to your seats.

Shit...

Come on, give him the 200 dollars.

I'm not traveling half-way
round the world for nothing.

Can you lend me some?

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues,

much has been said of late
about the decline of print journalism.

Tonight, we will honor
some of our colleagues

who are living proof of how vital
the printed media is for our information,

for our entertainment,

and even for our democracy as a whole.

You got a signal?

Shit. No.

They are shining examples

for honoring the press code, and I quote,

"To adhere to the facts,

to respect human dignity,

and to truthfully inform the public

are the highest principles of the press."

The top interview on animal feed,
a very important subject.

Many thanks.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

the main award of the evening,

the German Press Award
for Best Feature

goes to...

"Child's Play",

the story of a boy whose graffiti
triggered the war in Syria.

Congratulations
to our laureate Lars Bogenius.

GERMAN PRESS AWARDS

I don't want to talk about myself tonight,
but about the article.

It's only right.

The boy I wrote about, the young man...

He's still in that city,
which has been shelled for weeks.

We haven't heard from him
since going to print.

It makes it hard to talk about it.

I'm afraid I can't tell you
where Maroof Atassi is right now.

But I'm with him,
in my thoughts and in my heart.

Very moving words, Lars. Thank you.

However, I can reveal

this young man
is up for another award tonight,

for Best Sports Feature,

with "Colin Kaepernick - Touchdown".

I don't believe it.

Bogenius just made it all up.

They made a fake article
their cover story. Crazy, huh?

He just makes something up,

and they go and print it.

What if his other articles are also fake?

Shit...

The boy who triggered
the war in Syria with his graffiti.

The children in Aleppo.

The Kaepernick story.

Here's what we're gonna do.

We'll check every article,
go through everything.

I'm a photographer, man.

But you can read, can't you?

This guy is killing me.

Shit...

452,817 RESULTS FOR "LARS BOGENIUS"

NEW EMAIL

SENDING MESSAGE...

Alright, I'll wait for you.

You go take him down, okay?

The guy's finished.

Not even he can squirm out of this.

Okay?

I'll put the champagne on ice.

Juan, that's...

interesting.

Yes...

I'll skip the formalities.

You go there unannounced,
incurring expenses...

I paid for everything.
- Sure, sure.

Don't you think
they'd deny anything they told Bogenius?

Bogenius was never there.

He wasn't there?

Right.

You turning up and asking questions

only made them realize
how much Lars prized out of them.

They may be dumb, but not that dumb.

They won't incriminate themselves.

And what happens now?
They'll issue a rebuttal,

we'll issue a counter statement,
maybe legal procedures...

Your little trip is going to cost us.

Speaking of which,
did you pay for that interview?

Yes.

Webber demanded 200 dollars,
or else he wouldn't talk to us.

Alright, just hypothetically...

We're not accusing you of anything,
but, hypothetically...

How can we be sure
you didn't pay that moron

to tell lies about Bogenius?

Because I'm a journalist?
- So is Lars Bogenius.

An outstanding one,
with three German Press Awards.

Four, actually, since a few days ago.

This interview is evidence.
I don't go round faking evidence.

But Lars Bogenius fakes evidence?

Yes.

I have some evidence for you.

Lars received this email
from your Jack Webber guy.

He complains about Lars
only being with him for a few hours.

To summarize, we have this email
while you have a video you paid for.

Plus, Lars sent Yasmin a link to
the website of one of those Border Wolves.

Chris...
- Chris Jaeger.

That's it, Chris Jaeger.

There is no Chris Jaeger.
- Yeah, sure.

His website tells a different story.

Lots of photos, postings,
the whole shebang.

These people
are super active on social media.

It's easy to research,
you just need to look on...

...the net.
- Yes.

I did my research,
there are numerous inconsistencies.

In his other articles too.

This is getting ridiculous.

I contacted Colin Kaepernick's lawyer,

the football player.

Lars probably never...
- That's enough, end of discussion.

This whole spectacle is absurd.
You've lost it.

Rainer, leave it.

It's just that...

We think our mutual trust has been...

Well, you know.

We'll find a solution.

We appreciate you have two kids.
- Four.

Four?
- Four.

Wow.

The article is totally fake.

They'll rip you a new hole
when this gets out.

And if we
don't go public with this, then...

Then?

Somebody else will.

Are you trying to blackmail us, Juan?

They completely stonewalled me.

I don't know when you'll be back

or what state you'll be in
when you read this.

I'm taking the kids to my parents
and we'll stay there for now.

I don't mean to hurt or punish you,

but things can't go on
the way they've been lately.

You shout, you just disappear,

and just do your own thing.

What happened to the man I love?

We used to be a team, we discussed
everything, work or relationship...

We always found a solution.

This morning, the kids asked me
if Daddy still loves them.

I can't even tell them where you are.

Anne, it's me.

I'm so sorry.

I got completely caught up in this.

I know I've let you down.

I can forget about working
in journalism for a while.

They're going to destroy me.

It doesn't matter.

I'll just do something else.

Cab driver, or...

I'll even work in television.

I want you to know that, okay?

I miss you all.

Do you know Lorenzo Gonzales?

Lorenzo Gonzales
lived in a tiny village by the sea.

A small, weedy man,
71 years old and a father of ten.

Life was tough
for the boatbuilder and his family.

Lorenzo worked hard and lived frugally.

Each month, he put away
some of his hard-earned money

so he could give his children
a good education.

But then, disaster struck.

The Great Depression
meant Lorenzo's savings

weren't even worth the paper
they were printed on.

From one day to the next,
he'd become destitute.

The old man was distraught.

How was he going
to feed his beloved family?

Once a year, the traveling fair
came to Lorenzo Gonzalez's village.

"Who dares
enter the ring to fight El Feo?"

The prize if the giant hit the deck
was 1,000 pesetas.

In his desperation, Lorenzo Gonzalez
took up this impossible challenge.

El Feo was huge and strong,
but not very agile.

Lorenzo, by contrast,
was very nimble for a man of his age.

It was his only chance to make
the fight drag on for a few rounds.

The villagers initially found
the bizarre clash amusing.

But with each new round,
the crowd grew more impatient,

old Lorenzo Gonzales got more tired,

and El Feo got bored.

It was only a matter of time

before El Feo landed his knock-out blow
on the little old man.

That's if the thing with the rotten fish
hadn't happened.

"The rotten fish helped you out."

To this day, people from my home say this

when someone
in a seemingly hopeless situation

has their ass saved
by some incredible coincidence.

My rotten fish
was a celebrity lawyer from California.

Los Angeles.
- Yeah, sure, Hollywood.

That was Colin Kaepernick's lawyer.

Let's cast our minds back.

Lars Bogenius
was the only journalist worldwide

who was granted an interview
with the football star's adoptive parents.

Or was he?

I put this question
to Kaepernick's lawyer in an email.

So, what did he say?

Nothing. He shouted.

What did he shout?

Bogenius never spoke
to... his... parents...

It's all made up?

But that's shit.

Shit.

It's total shit.

Shit...

It's so shit.

Shit.

Romero...

that asshole.

Yasmin.
- Bad time?

No, not at all. Come in.

Thanks.

It's nice of you to drop by.

I thought we should get together
and talk strategy

for when we're running the department.

Can I get you a drink? Water? Tea?

No, cappuccino with oat milk, right.

That social media page you sent me...

Chris Jaeger's?
- Yes.

What about it?

How old is it?

No idea.

Have a guess.

I'm not sure. Ten years?

...no chance of finding him online.

Hold on.

And suddenly he's got a webpage.

JOINED ON 08.29.2018

The profile was created two days ago,
not ten years ago.

By you.

I'll go and do the laundry next. Hello.

Where's your sister, by the way?

That's not her, is it?

You made up your sister.

Man, you make me sick.

Juan.
- Bad time?

Well, recently...

What do you want?
- Justice.

What?
- Juan...

Not now.

I knew it.

I can prove it all.

Every single lie, every single fake.

Not the awards!

You ruined my life!
- Shit, stop it!

Yasmin, call the police!
- They won't save you now.

Have you lost your mind?

You're dead!

This was how I pictured
this story would end.

Maybe it would in a Bogenius article,
who knows?

In reality, things played out
a little differently.

As Lars Bogenius's pack of lies caved in,

I was sleeping off my hangover.

At the same time,
an IT expert at the CHRONIK

uncovered something extraordinary.

Email servers tend to retain
pretty much any information,

including the original email
by a certain Jack Webber to Lars Bogenius.

Can't we just delete it?

MOSCOW: KREMLIN CRITIC VANISHES

Let's get this over and done with.

I'll read out the titles...

and you respond with "true" or "not true".

"Number 440"?

THE PRISONER... NUMBER 440

Not true.

"Child's Play"?

Not entirely true.

"Royal Children"?

Well, the charity collection was true.

Kind of.

Shit. Those kids never existed.

And you were never there.

"Touchdown"?

You're wondering
why the world didn't notice?

I promised the parents it'll only be
published in Germany, and not online,

or behind a paywall.

They're worried
it'll cause a stir in the U.S.

I understand. We need to respect that.

"Jaeger's Frontier"

What's all this about?

What are we doing here?

What's the point in all this?

A quest for truth? What hubris.

I just did my job.

I did exactly what you asked of me.

How did you always put it?

What matters most about a story
is its dramatic arc.

The real world out there
is boring, dull, dreary.

We add the drama.

We provide a narrative, a plot, twists.

No one wants to be told
reality differs from what they think.

They don't want anything new.

People want what they already know.

They don't read an article
looking for truths.

They crave validation.

You don't buy a magazine that tells you
you're clueless, naive, stupid.

No, you buy a magazine
that presents your view of the world,

the way you see it,

and that tells exciting stories.

Remember?

It's very simple.

Protagonist, antagonist,

a duel.

Less tedium, more Tarantino.

I may have invented the odd character
and exaggerated a little.

But that's my only route
to what you want from me:

the emotional truth.

Anyone can do facts,
you don't need a writer for that.

Our mission is to bring you, our readers,
so close to the issues

that they become visceral.

In all their injustice,
in all their magnitude.

Bogenius has written approximately
60 articles in recent years.

Almost all of it was made up.

The scandal sent shockwaves
through German media.

The CHRONIK had been taken for a ride.

Of course their competitors jumped on it.

It was global news,
and some people really enjoyed it.

The CHRONIK had to seize the initiative.

They needed to investigate it all
and have a big clear-out,

starting with the former
Deputy Editor-in-Chief in waiting.

His superior, the former Editor-in-Chief
in waiting, also had to clear his desk.

THE TRUTH. NOTHING ELSE.

They now have plenty of time
to focus on their handicap.

Shit!

While the new Editor-in-Chief started
by ordering some wooden crates.

I do feel sorry
for the fact-checker guy, though.

There are differing theories
on what became of Lars Bogenius.

Some claim to have seen him in Hamburg,

others in Florida.

Some say he got completely
entangled in his own lies,

and now he's in therapy in Bavaria,

and on the road to recovery.

Hi, I'm Lars.

Hello Lars.

Would you like to tell us your story?

It all started with my sister.

But your sister doesn't exist, Lars.

I know, but it all started with her.

It was all very confusing,

and, ultimately,
nobody really knew where he was.

The last thing I read about him
was his Wikipedia entry.

I picture it something like this...

"His peers describe him
as an outstanding writer,

a magnificent colleague,

and a hugely talented, yet modest person,

without the arrogance
of other CHRONlKjournalists.

Throughout his career,

he has been compared to the greats,
such as Egon Erwin Kisch,

Tom Wolfe, or Truman Capote."

Like I said, we can't be sure.

What we do know for sure

is that he hired a lawyer.

Mr. Bogenius, I'm your legal counsel
and first responder to the media.

First we'll sue them.

All of them.

Meanwhile, I was busy
straightening things out at home.

It wasn't quite that bad.

It wasn't like this either.

Anyway, I'll spare you
the sentimentalities.

What matters is I have my family back.

I don't know
if I'll always be a journalist.

But I don't want my children
to grow up in a world of fake news.

Making up stories is a wonderful thing,

but there's no place for it in journalism.

So, next time people tear into
the "lying, fake-news media" -

maybe in my presence
as I've experienced it up close -

I'll speak out.

It wasn't journalism that lied,

journalism was lied to.

But the true facts
only got exposed through journalism too.

It's something
only journalism can achieve.

It may sound dramatic,
that's because it is.

This year's "Journalist of the Year"
is Juan Romero.

Bravo!

Oh yes!

Thank you for this award.

It means a lot to me,
as you're about to find out.

First and foremost,
I'd like to thank my wife.

Maybe she can put her phone down.

I want to use this moment

to tell her a few things
that are long overdue.

I love you, Anne.

I admire your energy,

your wit,

your habit of seeing the best in everyone.

I admire you for never giving up hope.

Just over 14 months ago,
our family had to withstand an earthquake.

Earthquakes are always horrific.

But often, the aftershocks
can be even worse.

Dear Anne, I'm sorry.

Neither you nor our daughters

deserved what I put us through.

Please forgive me.

Yes!

Say, Daddy?
- Yes, darling?

Is this new?

What?

Mommy's cell phone.
- Shush.

Then I could have her old one.

Jule, we talked about this.
Only when you're 12.

Everyone in my class has one,
apart from me.

I don't have one either.

Let's listen to Daddy's speech.

Daddy...
- That's enough now.

If you ask me how my life has changed...

not a lot, really.

INSPIRED BY "TAUSEND ZEILEN L?GEN"
(A THOUSAND LINES OF LIES)

BY JUAN MORENO

A THOUSAND LINES