Key figure of the New German Cinema and, alongside Margarethe Von Trotta, the only woman of the group to achieve international recognition. Unlike most other New German directors, Sanders-Brahms has remained a radical in terms of both her content (Marxist- and feminist-inspired canvases on life, politics and love) and form (use of alienation techniques, symbolism, interweaving of past/present and dream/reality).Sanders-Brahms (she is related to the famed composer on her mother's side) began her career as a TV announcer and turned to directing several years later. Through the 1970s she turned
After graduating from college, worked for one year as school teacher, then entered media industry
First media job as TV announcer for WDR-3, Cologne; job included introducing classic and contemporary films (Soviet silent cinema, Brazilian Cinema Novo)
1968
Went to Italy for WDR to interview directors such as Pasolini, Zeffirelli and Rosi; Pasolini struck her "like a thunderbolt" by saying that she would "make films"
Made first film, an interview with terrorist Ulrike Meinhof (of Baader-Meinhof group) for TV; still extant but rarely seen
1970
Short film directing debut, "Angelika Urban, Verkauferin, verlbot/Angelika Urban, Salesgirl, Engaged" (30 mins; black-and-white documentary)
