Since the mid-1970s, Munich-born director Dominik Graf has been working in film and television. And for his body of work, Graf has been nominated for countless awards both in Germany and internationally. From wildly popular German television shows like Tatort to Beloved Sisters, the German entry for best foreign language film at the Academy Awards, Graf is an accomplished director with a variety of works under his belt. This month, let’s practice German with the films of director Dominik Graf!
About Dominik Graf
Dominik Graf was born on September 6, 1952, in the Bavarian capital of Munich. The son of two actors, Graf grew up in the city and pursued his studies in film there as well. But it wasn’t a direct route to filmmaking. He initially was enrolled for German studies as well as applied musicology. But after two years, he switched gears. Graf moved to the University of Television and Film Munich, where he graduated in 1975.
Over the years, Graf has been nominated for seemingly every award there is in the German television and film industries. His work is clearly valued and appreciated by his peers.
Although Graf is perhaps best known for his directing, he has also worked as a writer, actor, and even has some credits to his name as a composer.
Die Katze
Die Katze, or The Cat, is a 1988 crime film starring Götz George, Gudrun Landgrebe, and Heinz Hoenig. In the film, Landgrebe and Hoenig portray two small-time criminals who try to rob a bank. When things don’t go as they plan, the duo takes the bank clerks hostage. Police try to get the robbery, which takes place in Düsseldorf, under control. But it becomes clear that there’s another criminal, portrayed by George, who is actually controlling the situation from outside of the bank.
The film is based on the novel of the same name by Uwe Erichsen.
Der Felsen
Karoline Eichhorn stars as Katrin in Der Felsen. In the film, Katrin’s long-term relationship ends during a vacation to Corsica. As the vacation ends, she stays behind and begins exploring things as a newly single woman. Katrin gets to know Malte, a teenager on the island in a reform camp. But things become complicated when the teen, portrayed by Antonio Wannek, falls in love with Katrin.
2002’s Der Felsen is known as A Map of the Heart in the English speaking film world. Graf directs the film and also receives a credit for co-writing along with Markus Busch.
Die geliebten Schwestern
In 2014’s Die geliebten Schwestern, or Beloved Sisters, Graf works as both writer and director. The biopic follows the life of German poet Friedrich Schiller and focuses on his relationship with sisters Caroline and Charlotte von Lengefeld. Schiller eventually marries Charlotte. The film stars Florian Stetter as Schiller, Henriette Confurius as Charlotte and Hannah Herzsprung as Caroline.
Although it ultimately did not receive a nomination, the film was Germany’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards.
Practice practice practice! Discover other great German language actors and actresses previously featured.
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