You’ve probably seen the thumbail. A sleek, sterile futuristic city where time is literally money. Netflix’s German sci-fi thriller Paradise hit the streaming service in mid-2023 and immediately sent everyone down a rabbit hole of ethical nightmares. It’s one of those "what would you do?" movies. But the reason it works isn’t just the high-concept plot about a company named AEON that lets people trade years of their life for cash. It’s the faces. The cast of Paradise 2023 brings a grounded, almost painful realism to a story that could have easily felt like a goofy episode of Black Mirror if the acting wasn't so spot on.
Honestly, seeing the desperation on screen makes you wonder about the actors behind the characters. We aren't looking at typical Hollywood A-listers here. Instead, we get a powerhouse lineup of European talent, mostly from Germany, who carry the heavy emotional weight of losing four decades of life in the blink of an eye.
The central couple: Kostja Ullmann and Marlene Tanczik
At the heart of the mess is Max and Elena. Max, played by Kostja Ullmann, is actually the guy who sells these "life donations" for a living. Talk about irony. Ullmann is a veteran of German cinema, and you might recognize him from My Blind Date with Life. He’s got this frantic energy in Paradise that shifts from corporate arrogance to total devastation. It's a wild arc.
Then there’s Elena. This is where it gets tricky. Marlene Tanczik plays the young version of Elena. She and Max are happy, they have a fancy apartment, and then—boom—a fire destroys everything and the bank demands 40 years of her life as collateral. Tanczik is incredible at showing that "deer in the headlights" terror. But because her character ages 40 years in a single surgical procedure, we need another actress to pick up the mantle.
Corinna Kirchhoff as the older Elena
Enter Corinna Kirchhoff. She takes over the role of Elena after the "donation" is finalized. The transition is jarring, which is exactly the point. Kirchhoff has to play a woman who is physically 60-plus but mentally still in her twenties, grieving the loss of her youth and her future with her husband. The chemistry (or lack thereof, due to the trauma) between her and Ullmann is what makes the second half of the movie so uncomfortable to watch. It’s a masterclass in physical acting. She moves like someone who isn't used to her body yet.
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The villain you love to hate: Iris Berben as Sophie Theissen
Every sci-fi dystopia needs a cold, calculating CEO. In this case, it’s Sophie Theissen, the head of AEON. Iris Berben plays her with a chilling, quiet elegance. Berben is basically royalty in the German acting world. She’s been working since the 60s and has hundreds of credits to her name. In Paradise, she’s the one who receives Elena’s years. Seeing her transform from an elderly woman to a rejuvenated version of herself (played by a younger actress in certain scenes) is peak creepy.
She doesn't play Sophie as a mustache-twirling villain. She plays her as someone who genuinely believes she is "optimizing" humanity. That’s the scariest part.
Supporting players who flesh out the world
The world-building in this film is supported by a few key side characters who represent the resistance against AEON.
- Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen: If you’re a fan of the Netflix series The Rain or 1899, you’ll recognize him immediately. He plays Fynn, a member of the Adam Group—the underground resistance fighting against the life-trading industry.
- Alina Levshin: She plays Lilith, the fierce leader of the Adam Group. She brings a radical, "by any means necessary" energy that contrasts with Max’s more personal, desperate motivations.
- Numan Acar: Playing Viktor, he adds a layer of grit to the security side of the AEON corporation. Acar is a familiar face globally, having appeared in Homeland and Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Why the cast of Paradise 2023 makes the movie work
It’s easy to get lost in the "cool" technology of sci-fi. But Paradise stays focused on the human cost. The cast of Paradise 2023 had to sell the idea that time is a tangible commodity. When Max looks at his wife—now an older woman—and still tries to see the girl he married, that’s not CGI doing the work. That’s pure acting.
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The movie was directed by Boris Kunz, who clearly leaned on the theatrical backgrounds of his leads. Much of the film takes place in cars or small rooms, making it feel like a tense stage play. The stakes are massive, but the performances are intimate.
The ethical dilemma through the actors' eyes
One of the most discussed parts of the film is the ending. No spoilers here, but the character shifts that happen to Max and Elena are profound. You see them lose their morality as they try to reclaim their time. Ullmann, specifically, does a great job of showing how a "good man" can become a monster when he feels cheated by the system. It’s a messy, grey-area performance that leaves you feeling a bit gross by the time the credits roll.
The casting of Lisa-Marie Koroll as the younger version of Sophie Theissen is also a stroke of genius. The resemblance is just close enough to be believable, selling the biological "theft" that anchors the plot.
Real-world parallels and reception
When Paradise dropped, critics were quick to compare it to In Time (the Justin Timberlake movie) or Gattaca. But the German perspective gives it a different flavor. There’s a specific European cynicism about corporate power that feels very present here. The cast of Paradise 2023 helped the film reach the Top 10 in over 90 countries on Netflix.
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Interestingly, the film doesn't rely on massive action set pieces. It relies on the face of Corinna Kirchhoff looking in a mirror and seeing a stranger. That’s the horror.
What to watch next if you liked this group
If you found yourself impressed by the talent, you should definitely check out more German-language content on streaming. The German film industry has been having a massive "moment" lately, especially in the thriller and sci-fi genres.
- Dark: If you haven't seen this, stop everything. It’s the gold standard for time-travel sci-fi and features a similarly sprawling, talented German cast.
- How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast): For a more comedic but still dark look at German youth culture and crime.
- All Quiet on the Western Front (2022): For a look at the incredible cinematography and intense acting that German productions are currently known for.
The cast of Paradise 2023 proved that you don't need a $200 million budget or Hollywood superstars to make a globally successful sci-fi hit. You just need a terrifyingly plausible idea and actors who can make you believe that 40 years of life can be sucked out of a person with a single needle.
To get the most out of your viewing experience, pay close attention to the physical mannerisms of the actors playing the same characters at different ages. The way they hold their shoulders and use their eyes is where the real storytelling happens. If you’ve already seen the movie, go back and watch the first fifteen minutes again—knowing where Max ends up makes his early "sales pitches" for AEON feel absolutely sickening.
Actionable Insights for Viewers:
- Watch in the original German: While the dubbing is okay, the emotional nuances in the voices of Kostja Ullmann and Corinna Kirchhoff are much stronger in the original German audio with subtitles.
- Research the filming locations: Much of the "futuristic" look was achieved using real locations in Berlin and Lithuania, proving that modern architecture is already looking pretty dystopian.
- Follow the actors: Many of these stars, like Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, are active on social media and often share behind-the-scenes looks at how the "aging" prosthetics and makeup were handled for the film.