Der König von Köln (2019)

The film begins with the arrest of Stüssgen, Cologne’s head of building and construction, during which his deputy, Di Carlo, admits that he has been cooperating with the public prosecutor’s office. As the voice-over narrator, he introduces the flashback to the events with the words, “In Cologne, everything begins with Carnival.” His wife is expecting their second child, and the family would like to expand their house, but heritage-protection rules prevent them from doing so. At Carnival, he meets Stüssgen and the construction contractor Asch, known in Cologne’s network of influence by the nickname Polier. Other scenes highlight Asch’s connections and influence across all areas of life in Cologne, especially his ties to the Hoppenheim bank. Stüssgen proposes Di Carlo as his deputy, and Asch says he will put in a good word for him. When Stüssgen suffers a heart attack during a subsequent visit to the Pascha in the red-light district, Di Carlo takes over the head of the department’s duties on an interim basis. Asch pressures him to push through the major New City Administration project without a tender and award it to Asch’s company. At the same time, the renovation of Di Carlo’s home—which had previously been refused—is promptly approved after all. Di Carlo carries out the city administration project as instructed, but begins to have doubts about the illegality of what is happening. Asch repeatedly slips him cash, which comes in handy for him as a young father. The Hoppenheim bank celebrates the major project. At the same time, the manager Middeldorf is introduced as a project and department-store manager, and the gullible heiress of the Dickeschanz department store is “taken for a ride.” The Cologne public prosecutor’s office launches an investigation, summons Di Carlo, and tactfully explains that his actions are above board and that the case will be dropped. Confused, he leaves the building. The young prosecutor Behrens takes up the case, but her bosses make the file disappear into the archives, and she is transferred. During a visit to the golf course, Di Carlo manages to steal Asch’s notebook, in which he apparently keeps records of his dealings. He takes it to the State Criminal Police Office in Düsseldorf, prompting the investigation to resume with prosecutor Behrens, and leading to the arrest of several people involved, including the Cologne prosecutors and Stüssgen.