Hartwig Seeler - Ein neues Leben (2021)

Former police officer Hartwig Seeler has worked as an independent private detective since his wife’s death. Now Tascha Pecht, a former colleague, asks him for help. Years ago, she was held captive for 36 hours by the brutal hostage-taker Gerald Metzner, who has now been released early. The ordeal not only gives her nightmares; she also fears Metzner may take revenge on her because her testimony led to his conviction at the time. Tascha wants Seeler to help her disappear “without a trace” and start a new life on the Maltese island of Gozo. Seeler tries in vain to talk his client out of the plan: after speaking with Metzner’s psychotherapist, Werner Pittner, he believes Metzner no longer poses a threat. Seeler is also unsure whether most of what Tascha fears is happening only in her head. Feeling unsafe in her apartment, Tascha had moved to a secluded bungalow after Metzner’s release. But now she has suddenly disappeared from there. A broken glass suggests a struggle, and Metzner is also nowhere to be found, leaving Seeler deeply worried. He hopes nothing has happened to Tascha and that she may have set off for Gozo without his help. He travels to the island and does indeed find the young woman there. Relieved to know she is safe, Seeler intends to return to Germany, but then he receives word from his former colleague Lasse that Metzner has been found shot dead in a forest. Seeler fears Tascha may have had something to do with it. He insists that she tell him the truth, and she admits that she shot Metzner in self-defense. He had come to see her, supposedly to apologize. Seeler explains that Metzner’s death will not resolve the problems that have haunted her all these years and that she needs medical care. A suicide attempt Tascha makes shortly after their conversation shows he is right. He persuades her to return to Germany with him and turn herself in to the police. Seeler is certain Tascha will be found to have diminished criminal responsibility.