Josef Bierbichler

Actor

Josef Bierbichler, born in Ambach on Lake Starnberg in 1948, is one of the most important actors in German-language theater and film. His training initially took him to the Otto Falckenberg School in Munich, where he began working closely with directors such as Peter Zadek and Christoph Schlingensief. He quickly made a name for himself as a powerful stage actor whose presence also has a great impact on screen. One outstanding film in his career is BRAND – Eine Totengeschichte (2011, directed by Thomas Roth). In this drama, Bierbichler plays the writer Brand, who, after suffering a stroke, grapples with illness, memory, and his own life's work. The film is based on a story by Joseph Conrad and was shown at international festivals. Bierbichler's performance was praised by critics as powerful and intense, earning him a nomination for the German Film Award for Best Actor in 2012. Bierbichler has also appeared in numerous other significant productions. He received widespread attention for his role in the Oscar-winning drama “The Counterfeiters” (2007, directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He also gave convincing performances in profound character roles in films such as “Winter Journey” (2006, directed by Hans Steinbichler). His collaboration with Michael Haneke in “The White Ribbon” (2009) once again brought him international visibility. Josef Bierbichler has received numerous honors for his achievements, including the 2007 German Film Award for Best Actor for “Winter Journey.” His literary works, such as the novel “Mittelreich,” have also attracted attention and underscore his versatility as an artist.

Films on Sooner

Brand

2011

104 mins

Crime, Thriller

An author falls in love with the nurse caring for his terminally ill wife.