Stalingrad

Joseph Vilsmaier is a German film director. After attending a boarding school near Augsburg, he was trained as a technician to make film cameras and then spent nine years at a music conservatory. Following this he was a member of a jazz group. Following his work as a technician he moved into film,... first as an assistant, then as a cameraman. His debut film, Herbstmilch in 1988, additionally starring his wife, Dana Vávrová, was a huge success, which was only to be outdone by Comedian Harmonists in 1997. Film critics are not that fond of Vilsmaier's work. On most of the films he has directed, Vilsmaier is also the first cameraman. While filming his latest film The Last Train , probably the last movie produced by Artur Brauner, he was injured by the collapse of a camera tower. From then on his ability to work was very limited, so Vávrová took over directing. The two of them were awarded the special prize by the jury at the 2006 Bavarian Film Awards for The Last Train. His wife Dana Vávrová died on 5 February 2009.
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