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Potsdam (dpa) – The Filmmuseum Potsdam has received parts of the estate of the late actress Renate Krößner, including personal documents, photographs, and posters from her films. The collection also includes distinctive items such as her plateau shoes and a leather jacket, alongside screenplays and production materials.
A Legacy of Love and Art
Bernd Stegemann, Krößner’s widower and a fellow actor, was present at the handover. When asked about Krößner’s character, he responded, “I think she was the most special and beautiful person I have ever met in my life, with whom I spent 50 years and with whom I would have liked to spend perhaps another 50.”
The Filmmuseum Potsdam noted that Krößner was a frequent guest there. Oliver Hanley, the new collection manager, emphasized the significance of acquiring her estate, especially in light of the 80th founding anniversary of the Defa film company.
From Osterode to International Acclaim
Krößner passed away six years ago at the age of 75 in Blankenfelde, Brandenburg. Born in Osterode am Harz in 1945, she began her acting career on stages in Parchim, Stendal, Senftenberg, and Brandenburg an der Havel after graduating from the State Drama School in Berlin. Her breakthrough came with “Solo Sunny,” one of the most successful films of the GDR era.
“Solo Sunny” and its Enduring Impact
A current special exhibition at the Filmmuseum Potsdam, running until May 2027, is titled “Ohne Frühstück. Ohne Diskussion. 80 Jahre DEFA-Filme” (Without Breakfast. Without Discussion. 80 Years of DEFA Films). It showcases 40 well-known and lesser-known films, including “Solo Sunny.” The film famously features Krößner’s character dismissing her lovers with the words, “Is’ ohne Frühstück. Is’ auch ohne Diskussion” (It’s without breakfast. It’s also without discussion).
A kimono and a light blue striped shirt from the 1980 film by director Konrad Wolf are displayed in the exhibition and are part of the newly acquired estate.
A Woman Against the Odds
In “Solo Sunny,” Krößner portrayed Ingrid “Sunny” Sommer, an aspiring jazz singer who struggles against the constraints of a male-dominated society. For this role, she received the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlinale in the same year. Due to the film’s disapproval by the GDR cultural bureaucracy, Krößner was denied roles for an extended period.
Consequently, in 1983, she applied for an exit visa and, in 1985, moved to West Berlin with her son and partner Stegemann.
Continued Success in the West
In West Germany, Krößner successfully continued her career, performing on stages in Basel, at the Residenztheater Munich, and the Berliner Schaubühne. She also appeared in numerous television roles, including “Tatort” and series such as “Liebling Kreuzberg,” “Stubbe – von Fall zu Fall” alongside Wolfgang Stumph, and “Einmal Bulle, immer Bulle.” Her cinematic credits include roles in films like “Helden wie wir” and “Alles auf Zucker.”
Source: https://berliner-abendblatt.de/berlin-news/nachlass-der-schauspielerin-renate-kroessner-kommt-ins-museum-id351651
