About

Known credits:
35
Birthday:
1930-05-30
Place of birth:
Leipzig, Germany
Website:
N/A

Ralf Kirsten

Overview

Ralf Kirsten (30 May 1930 – 23 January 1998) was a German film director and screenwriter. He directed 22 films between 1955 and 1986. His 1984 film Where Others Keep Silent was entered into the 14th Moscow International Film Festival.

After doing an apprenticeship as an electrician, Kirsten went to university to study German literature and theatre, first at Humboldt University of Berlin, and later the Theater Institute in Weimar. He then went on to study film direction at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) alongside fellow East German Frank Beyer. He graduated in 1956, and began working in television.

In 1960, Kirsten joined DEFA, the state-owned film studio of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), where he had previously produced both his FAMU diploma film, Bärenburger Schnurre (English: Bärenburger Farce), and his first feature film, Skimeister von morgen (English: Ski Champions of the Future). His first film for DEFA was Steinzeitballade (English: Stone Age Ballad), an experimental film about rubble women in post-war Berlin, which was well received by critics. In 1961 Kirsten found popular success with Auf der Sonnenseite (English: On the Sunny Side), a comedy about a factory worker who dreams of becoming a star, featuring Manfred Krug in the lead role. Kirsten and Krug would go on to collaborate on several other films.

In 1966, Kirsten directed a film adaptation of Der verlorene Engel, a Franz Fuhmann novel about sculptor Ernst Barlach. The film was initially banned, and was only shown in public for the first time in 1970, with a general release the following year. Kirsten made several films about historical figures, including 1984's Where Others Keep Silent, about the early 20th century German communist leader Clara Zetkin.

When DEFA closed following the reunification of Germany, Kirsten taught at the Konrad Wolf Film University of Babelsberg. He died in Berlin on 23 January 1998.

Known for

Directing
1987 Käthe Kollwitz – Pictures of a Life Directing Director 58
Average
1984 Wo andere schweigen Directing Director N/A
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1979 Lachtauben weinen nicht Directing Director N/A
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1978 Ich zwing dich zu leben Directing Director N/A
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1975 Eine Pyramide für mich Directing Director N/A
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1973 Unterm Birnbaum Directing Director 59
Average
1973 The Devil's Elixirs Directing Director 59
Average
1971 The Lost Angel Directing Director 59
Average
1970 Zwei Briefe an Pospischiel Directing Director N/A
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1970 Netzwerk Directing Director N/A
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1967 Frau Venus und ihr Teufel Directing Director 59
Average
1964 Mir nach, Canaillen Directing Director 59
Average
1963 Chronicle of a Summer Directing Director 58
Average
1962 Auf der Sonnenseite Directing Director N/A
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1961 Steinzeitballade Directing Director N/A
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1960 Meetings In The Dark Directing Assistant Director N/A
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1957 Skimeister von Morgen Directing Director N/A
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1957 Bahrenburg Stories Directing Director N/A
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1955 Fools Among Us Directing Director N/A
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Writing
1987 Käthe Kollwitz – Pictures of a Life Writing Writer 58
Average
1984 Wo andere schweigen Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1979 Lachtauben weinen nicht Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1978 Ich zwing dich zu leben Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1975 Eine Pyramide für mich Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1973 Unterm Birnbaum Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1971 The Lost Angel Writing Writer 59
Average
1970 Zwei Briefe an Pospischiel Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1970 Netzwerk Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1967 Frau Venus und ihr Teufel Writing Writer 59
Average
1964 Mir nach, Canaillen Writing Writer 59
Average
1963 Chronicle of a Summer Writing Writer 58
Average
1962 Auf der Sonnenseite Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1961 Steinzeitballade Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1957 Bahrenburg Stories Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1955 Fools Among Us Writing Writer N/A
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