Growing up in the wake of World War II, talented German director Wolfgang Petersen developed a passion for all things American and by the age of 11 had decided that making movies (to his mind an essentially American art form) was what he wanted to do with his life. Initially drawn to the films of John Ford for their clear presentation of good and evil (in contrast to the messy Europe of the day), he went on to immerse himself in the directors of the French Nouvelle Vague, especially Francois Truffaut, whom he cites as his most important influence, though he is quick to add "there's nothing
Began career as assistant director at Ernst Deutsch Theater, Hamburg; also acted
1961
Directed first play
1970
German TV directorial debut, "I Will Kill You, Wolf"
1971
Directed six episodes of German series "Tatort/Crime Scene"; first met and worked with actor Jurgen Prochnow on this series
1973
Feature directorial debut, "Einer von uns Beiden/One or the Other", the story of a student who blackmails one of his professors; won the German National Film Prize as Best New Director; Prochnow acted in picture, re-released in 1979 and picked up by Lufthansa airlines to show on its cross-Atlantic flights
