When Bastien Reiber and his team at Das Manko Collective began brainstorming for a television series, they elected to skip the most challenging aspect of production.
The resulting ZDF series, The Flaws, is notably sparse on dialogue yet rich in slapstick, impactful humor, and emotional depth. Drawing inspiration from comedic legends such as Charlie Chaplin, Peter Sellers, and the renowned German comic Loriot, the series recently triumphed at the Seriencamp competition, prevailing over higher-budget productions like the dystopian sci-fi All Heroes Are Bastards and the Helena Zengel-led Westend Girl.
Reiber, a key figure in the 11-member theater group, shared with Deadline that their previous theatrical experiences, which featured minimal verbal interaction, influenced their approach to this series. "We weren’t originally writers, and we found dialogue particularly tough, so we opted to eliminate it," Reiber explained.
Reiber humorously noted that creating the series without dialogue wasn’t necessarily simpler.
The Flaws (Das Manko), set to premiere in Cologne, follows the daily antics of typical German government office workers—introverted, compliant, and notoriously incompetent. Shielded by their sympathetic supervisor, they narrowly avoid termination when consultants review their office. However, due to a fortunate mishap, they are instead sent to a sophisticated training program.
Seriencamp praised The Flaws for its ability to render viewers speechless, often through its near-pantomimic portrayal of the absurdity inherent in modern workplaces and specifically in German bureaucratic systems. The success of the series is attributed to the fact that its creators are also its actors, enhancing the authenticity and impact of their performances.
The concept for the series was developed during numerous Zoom sessions throughout the pandemic, where Reiber and his collective fine-tuned a show that capitalized on their theatrical strengths. They initially created a 10-minute silent short film about a non-speaking office event, which ultimately convinced ZDF and Stromberg director Arne Feldhusen to support and lead the project.
Despite the seemingly improvised nature of scenes—such as employees crammed into a tiny smoking area—the execution was, according to Reiber, "extremely precise."
"We first had to secure funding, then put our ideas on paper, which was challenging since you can’t just write ‘then he trips and falls’," Reiber said. They had to devise ways to ensure the humor translated well in written form.
Among the cast, only Amelie Willberg’s character approaches what could be considered a traditional speaking role, delivering lines at a rapid pace. Reiber described her performance as nothing short of "miraculous," likening it to "something from another planet."
ZDF’s commissioning editor Jakob Zimmerman found the script exceptionally "punchy, well-written, and clear in how the scenes would unfold."
While The Flaws does bear resemblances to Severance with its stark office setting and symbolic humor, Reiber prefers to attribute his inspiration to classic film comedians. "I’m deeply influenced by Charlie Chaplin, Peter Sellers, Buster Keaton," he stated, highlighting the historical roots of the show’s comedy.
Reiber admitted that crafting The Flaws posed significant challenges since there were no similar references in German television. "We had to continuously evaluate whether it was humorous, overly ridiculous, or insufficiently so. It was a demanding process, but I thoroughly enjoyed it," he said.
"Being a Collective in a Very Democratic Way"
Feldhusen praised the democratic and collaborative nature of the project, which he found immensely enjoyable to direct. "The collective approach was initially daunting, but it allowed for a fluid exchange of ideas and problem-solving among the actors," Feldhusen shared.
When Zimmerman provided feedback, Reiber respectfully acknowledged it, promising to consult with his team before returning with enhanced ideas. "Weeks later, he’d return with something completely different and exceptionally creative," Zimmerman recalled.
Reiber, in turn, credited Zimmerman for helping refine the series to its core essence. Zimmerman oversees a ZDF department known for producing debut feature films and commissioning lower-budget comedies and shorts.
In addition to The Flaws, Zimmerman’s team also clinched a Seriencamp award for the short-form series Sheep, which humorously explores the idea of sheep believing they have domesticated humans, complete with animated mouth movements on real animals.
Zimmerman emphasized his department’s capacity to embrace risk, stating, "We have the liberty to experiment because there’s less pressure for immediate success. If a project doesn’t succeed, we view it as a learning opportunity. We’re encouraged to pursue radical ideas."
Seriencamp, which hosted these events, took place from June 9 to 11.
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