Professor Tarantoga und sein seltsamer Gast

With an open mind and the meticulousness of a scientist, Professor Tarantoga meets his strange guest, who has made contact with him from a psychiatric institution. The eccentric introduces himself as Novak on one occasion and Hippekorn on another. Hippekorn comes from the future, more precisely from the second half of the 35th century. Professor Tarantoga patiently tries to find out whether the man is simply crazy or actually an alien from another time and world.

Directed by Jens-Peter Proll, Professor Tarantoga und sein seltsamer Gast leans on a strong ensemble — Eberhard Esche, Volkmar Kleinert, Ruth Glöss — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about tv movie titles of 1979.