Joseph Vilsmaier
{{Short description|German film director (1939–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
|image =
| name = Joseph Vilsmaier
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1939|1|24|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Munich, Bavaria, Nazi Germany
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|2|11|1939|1|24|df=y}}
| death_place = Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| othername =
| occupation = Film director
| yearsactive = 1970–2020
}}
Joseph Vilsmaier ({{IPA|de|ˈjoːzɛf ˈfɪlsmaɪ.ɐ|pron|De-Joseph Vilsmaier.ogg}}, 24 January 1939 – 11 February 2020) was a German film director who began his career as a technician and cameraman. He is internationally known for films such as Comedian Harmonists.
Life
Born in Munich. Vilsmaier attended a boarding school near Augsburg. He then trained as a technician to make film cameras, and studied piano at the Musikhochschule München. He was a member of a jazz group. After working as a technician, he moved into film, first as a material and camera assistant, then from 1961 as a cameraman. He filmed episodes of television series such as Tatort.
His debut film as director, Herbstmilch in 1988, starring his wife, Dana Vávrová, was a huge success. In 1995, he directed Schlafes Bruder, after the novel by Robert Schneider. In 1997, he directed Comedian Harmonists which became an international success. For the films he directed, Vilsmaier was also the producer and first cameraman.
While filming Der Letzte Zug in 2005, probably the last film produced by Artur Brauner, he was injured when he fell off a camera tower. Subsequently, his ability to work was limited, and his wife took over directing the film. The couple was awarded the special jury prize at the 2006 Bavarian Film Awards for Der letzte Zug.
Vávrová died on 5 February 2009. The couple had three daughters, {{ill|Janina Vilsmaier|de|lt=Janina}}, {{ill|Theresa Vilsmaier|de|lt=Theresa}}, and {{ill|Josefina Vilsmaier|de|lt=Josefina}}, all of whom became actresses and starred in a number of their films.
Awards
- Bavarian Film Awards
- 1990 Best Production
- 1992 Bavarian Film Awards, Best Producing, Best Cinematography
- 1995 Bavarian Film Award, Best Production
- 1997 Bavarian Film Award, Best Director
- 2006 Bavarian Film Award, Special Prize
- 18th Moscow International Film Festival
- Nominated – Stalingrad
Filmography
Vilsmaier directed films and television films, including:
{{div col}}
- Herbstmilch (1988)
- {{ill|Rama dama (film)|de|Rama dama (Film)|lt=Rama dama}} (1990)
- Stalingrad (1993)
- Charlie & Louise – Das doppelte Lottchen (1994)
- Schlafes Bruder (1995)
- {{ill|And Nobody Weeps for Me|de|Und keiner weint mir nach (Film)}} (1996)
- Comedian Harmonists (1997)
- Marlene (2000)
- Leo & Claire (2001)
- {{ill|Rock Crystal (2004 film)|de|3=Bergkristall (Film)|lt=Rock Crystal}} (2004)
- The Last Train (Der letzte Zug) (2006)
- {{ill|Ship of No Return: The Final Voyage of the Gustloff|de|Die Gustloff}} (2008, TV film)
- {{ill|The Legend of Brandner Kaspar|de|Die Geschichte vom Brandner Kaspar}} (2008)
- Nanga Parbat (2010)
- {{ill|Russisch Roulette|de|3=Russisch Roulette (2012)}} (2012, TV film)
- {{Ill|The Perjured Farmer (2012 film)|de|3=Der Meineidbauer (2012)|lt=The Perjured Farmer}} (2012, TV film)
- {{ill|Bavaria – Traumreise durch Bayern|de}} (2012)
{{end div col}}
References
{{reflist
| refs =
| url = http://www.bayern.de/Pressemitteilungen-.1255.19209/index.htm
| title = Ministerpräsident Stoiber verleiht Bayerischen Filmpreis 2006
| date = 19 January 2007
| access-date = 13 February 2020
| website = Bavaria
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120209215437/http://www.bayern.de/Pressemitteilungen-.1255.19209/index.htm
| archive-date = 9 February 2012
}}
| url = https://www.br.de/nachrichten/kultur/joseph-vilsmaier-tod-nachruf,RqHB4BS
| title = Sein Leben war "Fasching": Zum Tod von Joseph Vilsmaier
| website = BR
| language = de
| date = 12 February 2020
| access-date = 13 February 2020
}}
| url = https://www.filmportal.de/person/joseph-vilsmaier_13f708afe09f44bfba0351080816db83
| title = Joseph Vilsmaier
| website = Filmportal
| language = de
| date = 6 February 2009
| access-date = 8 February 2009
}}
| url = http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1993
| title = 18th Moscow International Film Festival (1993)
| access-date = 9 March 2013
| website = Moscow International Film Festival
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140403093721/http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1993
| archive-date = 3 April 2014
}}
| url = http://www.bayern.de/Anlage19170/PreistraegerdesBayerischenFilmpreises-Pierrot.pdf
| title = Pierrot
| access-date = 13 February 2020
| website = Bavaria
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090325011005/http://www.bayern.de/Anlage19170/PreistraegerdesBayerischenFilmpreises-Pierrot.pdf
| archive-date = 25 March 2009
}}
| url = https://www.welt.de/kultur/article3158139/Schauspielerin-Dana-Vavrova-stirbt-mit-41-Jahren.html
| title = Schauspielerin Dana Vávrová stirbt mit 41 Jahren
| newspaper = Die Welt
| publisher = Axel Springer AG
| language = de
| date = 6 February 2009
| access-date = 8 February 2009
}}
}}
External links
- {{DNB portal|118912216}}
- {{IMDb name|id=0005917|name=Joseph Vilsmaier}}
- [https://titel-kulturmagazin.net/2019/01/23/menschen-zum-80-geburtstag-des-filmregisseurs-joseph-vilsmaier/ Heftige Gefühle entwickeln] (portrait on the occasion of his 80th birthday) {{ill|Titel-Kulturmagazin|de}}, 24 January 2019
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vilsmaier, Joseph}}
Category:Film directors from Munich
Category:Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany