Flamboyant, ingenious "chronicler of the German soul" who has made some of the most formally arresting films of the New German Cinema. Syberberg made numerous shorts and TV documentaries before directing his first narrative features, "Scarabea" (1968) and "San Domingo" (1970). Both films foreshadow, to a limited extent, the formal experimentation of his later, better known works, "Ludwig--Requiem for a Virgin King" (1972) and the seven-hour "Hitler--A Film from Germany" (1977). Low-budget, studio-bound features employing Brechtian theatrics, backdrops and rear-screen projection, these films
Met Bertolt Brecht at age 16 and secured permission to film rehearsals of Berliner Ensemble (resulting 8mm sound film later blown up to 35mm and relased in 1970 as "After My Last Move")
1953
Ran away to West Germany at age 17
1963
Made nearly 200 documentary shorts for Bavarian TV
