Joseph Vilsmaier
(Director, Cinematographer, Production)
Born in 1939 in Munich, award-winning director Joseph Vilsmaier received his professional training in the camera production and technical departments, studio and laboratory at Arnold and Richter (ARRI). Simultaneously, he studied music at Munich's Conservatorie, where he majored in piano. Beginning in 1961, he worked at Bavaria Film as an assistant cameraman and later as director of photography. In 1988, Vilsmaier founded his own production company -- Perathon Film -- and made his directorial debut with AUTUMN MILK (HERBSTMILCH).
AUTUMN MILK won numerous international and national awards, including prizes at the Tokyo, Verona, and Hong Kong film festivals. The film also won the Bavarian Film Prize for lead actors Dana Vávrová and Werner Stocker, the German Film Prize in Gold
for Vávrová , the German Film Prize in Silver for Perathon Film and for Joseph Vilsmaier, the Actors Award of the Film & Television (Chaplin Shoe) for Vávrová , and the Acting Prize for Vávrová at the Valladolid Film Festival.
In 1990, Vilsmaier directed RAMA DAMA, and in 1992 he directed STALINGRAD. STALINGRAD won the Main Prize at the Moscow Film Festival and played in New York at Film Forum where it received strong reviews from the critics.
In addition to directing BROTHER OF SLEEP, Vilsmaier was also the director of photography. He has been married to actress Dana Vávrová since 1986, and the couple has three daughters.
Selected Filmography
As Director of Photography:
1972 FLUCHT OHNE AUSWEG
1976 FALLSTUDIEN
1977 DAS BLAUE PALAIS
1981 ROTE ERDE
1984 BÜRO - BÜRO
1985 EIN STÜCK HIMMEL
As director (and director of photography)
1988 AUTUMN MILK (HERBSTMILCH)
1990 RAMA DAMA
1992 STALINGRAD
1993 CHARLIE & LOUISE - DAS DOPPELTE LOTTCHEN
1995 BROTHER OF SLEEP (SHLAFES BRUDER)
1996 UND KEINER WEINT MIR NACH (in production)
COMEDIAN HARMONISTS (in preparation)
Last Modified 05-September-1996
If you spot any errors on this site, please let us know.