Bavarian-born actor Maximilian Brückner seems to have portrayed every role imaginable. He has brought to life everything from seemingly radical theologians to closeted athletes fighting bigotry. Whether it is classical drama or comedy, Brückner’s talent knows no boundaries or limits. So this month, let us learn German with the films of actor Maximilian Brückner!
Get to Know Maximilian Brückner
Maximilian Brückner was born on January 10, 1979, in Munich, the capital of the German state of Bavaria. He is the oldest of eight siblings that include five brothers and three sisters. In fact, a number of Brückner’s siblings are also in the film industry. This includes brothers Florian and Franz Xaver with whom he has worked professionally.
Brückner studied at Munich’s Otto Falckenberg School of the Performing Arts as well as later with theater director Christian Stückl. While today there are quite a number of film and television titles to his name, Brückner got his start in theater. Since 2002, Brückner has been a member of the Müncher Volkstheater.
Guys and Balls (Männer wie wir)
In one of his first film roles, Brückner stars as Ecki in the 2004 sports comedy Männer wie wir, or Guys and Balls. An avid football (read: soccer) fan, Ecki plays on for his local team. But after failing to stop a goal in a pivotal game, Ecki is then kicked off the team due to homophobia when he kisses a teammate.
Ecki decides to form his own team of gay players and challenge his old teammates to a match. But putting together his own team comes with its own set of challenges.
The film Männer wie wir was a win in German theaters, becoming one of the most popular German films of the year.
Sophie Scholl – The Final Days (Sophie Scholl – Die letzten Tage)
Julia Jentsch stars as the title character in 2005’s Sophie Scholl – The Final Days. The film recalls the true story of Scholl, a 21-year old student in Munich. But she is not an ordinary student. Scholl was a non-violent activist and part of the White Rose, a German Resistance to the Nazis. Brückner stars as White Rose member Willi Graf. As the title suggests, the film follows Scholl during the last days of her life. The group sees a sad end.
Reformation (Zwischen Himmel und Hölle)
In German television channel ZDF’s two-part series Zwischen Himmel and Hölle (Reformation) from 2017, Brückner portrays Martin Luther. The nearly three-hour made-for-television film explores Luther’s religious revolution from 500 years prior. It was in 1517 that he published his Nine-five Theses on the door of a Catholic church, risking both his life and his reputation.
Practice practice practice! Discover other great German-language actors and actresses previously featured.
Photo by Stefan Klüter, courtesy Agentur Lambsdorff. This post contains affiliate links.
