The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung’s Sascha Lehnartz met Nora Tschirner (in German), whose performance in Kebab Connection I was very impressed with, and fell in love with her zestful and melancholic but rather mature nature.

His impression of “Kebab Connection” mirrors mine –

“the film is rather funny for a German comedy. Which means as much as: for an Italian car it doesn’t need to go to the garage too often.”

But the article is not about the film, it is about a seemingly thoughtful aspiring actress who admits that she – after playing the leading role in a film set in the Hamburg immigrant milieu – discovered only last week at a German Volksmusik event in Berlin what the term “parallel society” really means. But – not too surprisingly – Mr Lehnartz is most excited about Ms Tschirner’s approach to “responsibility” – her role in Kebab connection is that of a young mother to be who – sort of – puts off her acting education to keep the baby. His conclusion – if everone in the “Generation Nora” were like her, we would not have to worry too much about Germany’s future. I suppose that’s a pretty big compliment coming from the FAZ, the central organ of enlighted German conservatism, and probably an expression of excitement about another perceived victory in the ongoing conservative battle against the seeming hedonistic irresponsibility exhibited by everyone under, say, 40 these days.

But there’s a chance that – blinded by excitement -, Mr Lehnartz wasn’t able to read between the lines:

“… of course it’s a generational thing that not everyone is screaming ‘I want all responsibility’ these days, but rather ‘alright, if I have to’. But in that case, we can do it. And to be able to do it in that situation is what counts in the end.”

It’s not too difficult to imagine why the FAZ believes that it’s clear to see that the time has come again for Kant’s sublime and mighty name, that has nothing charming or insinuating but requires submission. But I’m guessing we’ll very soon see Ms Tschirner choose a couple of roles that she’s got her own mind – and my bet is, at 23, she won’t think about Kant just yet.

And in my book, that’s reason not to worry too much about Germany’s future.