1:14 pm - 02/26/2013
FRANKFURT – Christoph Waltz’s second Academy Award has once again launched a very serious debate in Europe – is he Austrian or German?
Both nations have laid claim to the 56-year-old actor, who won best supporting actor Oscars for his portrayals of a Nazi soldier in “Inglourious Basterds,” as well as a German bounty hunter in “Django Unchained.”
The debate concerning Mr. Waltz stems from a long, contentious history in which Austria and Germany argue over which famous German-speaking figures belong to which country, the borders of which have historically often been blurred. For example, Austria tries to lay claim to Ludwig van Beethoven – born in Bonn, Germany, but who arguably came into musical greatness in Austria. Germans cling to the fact that Adolf Hitler was Austrian.
Mr. Waltz’s father had German citizenship, as does he. But he was born and grew up in Vienna, and the country quickly moved to offer him Austrian citizenship after his first Oscar win in 2010. He now holds both German and Austrian passports.
“I was born in Vienna, I grew up in Vienna, I went to school in Vienna, I took my university entrance exams in Vienna, I studied in Vienna, I began my professional career in Vienna, I had my first theater role in Vienna, I filmed for the first time in Vienna, and there are a few more Vienna specifics. How much more Austrian could you be?” Mr. Waltz has said, according to Austria’s ORF broadcaster.
Mr. Waltz was not immediately available for comment Monday.
The German media politely labeled him “German-Austrian” in their coverage of his win Monday, while the Austrian media celebrated the dual wins of their Austrians – Mr. Waltz and the success of director Michael Haneke for his foreign film prize for “Amour.” Austrian politicians issued congratulatory press statements, seemingly reveling in Mr. Waltz’s now official status.
Mr. Waltz weighed in on the cultural differences between the two nations on Conan O’Brien’s talk show in 2011, with the edge going to Austria. He said Austrians tend to be polite without meaning it; Germans are more direct and confrontational.
“The difference between Austrians and Germans is like the difference between a battleship and a waltz,” Mr. Waltz said.
Mr. O’Brien asked about the cliché that Germans have no sense of humor.
“That’s not a cliché,” said Mr. Waltz, smiling.
Christoph Waltz took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor at this year's Oscars for his role as a dentist-turned-bounty-hunter in Django Unchained.
But prior to becoming the charming, Oscar-snagging performer he is today — Waltz won the same award in 2009 for Inglorious Basterds — the Austrian actor dabbled in song.
The video above, taken from a 1977 episode of the Austrian children's show At the Dam, shows a 21-year-old Waltz's more theatrical (and undeniably fashionable) side of performing. Striped leotard aside, he's still pretty charming.
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Christoph Waltz’s Oscar Spurs Debate: Austrian or German?
FRANKFURT – Christoph Waltz’s second Academy Award has once again launched a very serious debate in Europe – is he Austrian or German?
Both nations have laid claim to the 56-year-old actor, who won best supporting actor Oscars for his portrayals of a Nazi soldier in “Inglourious Basterds,” as well as a German bounty hunter in “Django Unchained.”
The debate concerning Mr. Waltz stems from a long, contentious history in which Austria and Germany argue over which famous German-speaking figures belong to which country, the borders of which have historically often been blurred. For example, Austria tries to lay claim to Ludwig van Beethoven – born in Bonn, Germany, but who arguably came into musical greatness in Austria. Germans cling to the fact that Adolf Hitler was Austrian.
Mr. Waltz’s father had German citizenship, as does he. But he was born and grew up in Vienna, and the country quickly moved to offer him Austrian citizenship after his first Oscar win in 2010. He now holds both German and Austrian passports.
“I was born in Vienna, I grew up in Vienna, I went to school in Vienna, I took my university entrance exams in Vienna, I studied in Vienna, I began my professional career in Vienna, I had my first theater role in Vienna, I filmed for the first time in Vienna, and there are a few more Vienna specifics. How much more Austrian could you be?” Mr. Waltz has said, according to Austria’s ORF broadcaster.
Mr. Waltz was not immediately available for comment Monday.
The German media politely labeled him “German-Austrian” in their coverage of his win Monday, while the Austrian media celebrated the dual wins of their Austrians – Mr. Waltz and the success of director Michael Haneke for his foreign film prize for “Amour.” Austrian politicians issued congratulatory press statements, seemingly reveling in Mr. Waltz’s now official status.
Mr. Waltz weighed in on the cultural differences between the two nations on Conan O’Brien’s talk show in 2011, with the edge going to Austria. He said Austrians tend to be polite without meaning it; Germans are more direct and confrontational.
“The difference between Austrians and Germans is like the difference between a battleship and a waltz,” Mr. Waltz said.
Mr. O’Brien asked about the cliché that Germans have no sense of humor.
“That’s not a cliché,” said Mr. Waltz, smiling.
Christoph Waltz took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor at this year's Oscars for his role as a dentist-turned-bounty-hunter in Django Unchained.
But prior to becoming the charming, Oscar-snagging performer he is today — Waltz won the same award in 2009 for Inglorious Basterds — the Austrian actor dabbled in song.
The video above, taken from a 1977 episode of the Austrian children's show At the Dam, shows a 21-year-old Waltz's more theatrical (and undeniably fashionable) side of performing. Striped leotard aside, he's still pretty charming.
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That category was a clusterfuck though. Arkin shouldn't have been nominated.
not really a good quality tho
But I can sympathize with Germany, Canada will label anyone Canadian if they set foot in the country during their childhood (Anna Paquin, Jack Warner, etc).
"einsten was a german-born american physicist"
who the fuck ever think/considers einstein as americans
same thing with tesla
how was he serbian-american he moved to the us when he was 30
the us will jump on anything that'll give them scientific recognition tho. nice try.
Edited at 2013-02-26 01:24 pm (UTC)
Waltz actually interrupted Regis Philbin two years ago when he introduced him as a 'German actor' to make it clear he was Austrian, so I guess he doesn't feel German.
Funnily enough, the only thing he really got my attention with pre-Tarantino was this IKEA ad:
I just made the last two for another user earlier today, so if you want anything specific i'll try to do it for you :)
Where are you from in Germany?
Get it? I'm really bad at explaining. lol
Edited at 2013-02-26 02:21 pm (UTC)
I'm not criticizing Austria, Germany makes it extremely difficult to become a dual citizen. I eventually had to denounce my citizenship with Germany in 2005 because I just couldn't deal with the endless justification of trying to get grandfathered in to certain policies and protocols that came into play after I was born so that I wouldn't be penalized by the country.
Eugh. I get stressed thinking about it.
Also, there's that story about Arnold Schwarzenegger offering to do the German voice dubbing for The Terminator but being rejected because his accent was too course/country sounding.
But I can't hate Bavaria because the great baritone-bass Hans Hotter was from Bavaria.
My accent is flawless though - no competition ;-)