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Otto Sander

Actor
Otto Sander was one of the most distinctive actors in German cinema and shaped cinema, television, and theater for decades. His unmistakable voice and his often complex characters made him a fixture in numerous productions. Sander worked in both large ensemble films and experimental projects and became one of the most recognizable faces in German character acting. One of the key milestones in his filmography is PALERMO OR WOLFSBURG from 1980, directed by Werner Schroeter, in which he played a memorable supporting role. He also appeared in DER EINSTEIN DES SEX (The Einstein of Sex) from 1999, directed by Rosa von Praunheim, which deals with biographical aspects of the sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld. Another important participation is the 2013 documentary ROLAND KLICK - THE HEART IS A HUNGRY HUNTER, directed by Sandra Prechtel, in which Sander appears as an interlocutor and contemporary witness. In addition, his role in ZUM BEISPIEL OTTO SPALT, a satirical film project from 1981 directed by Xaver Schwarzenberger, which already bears his name in the title and underlines his connection to unusual material, is well documented. Throughout his career, Sander has appeared in numerous other productions, including popular series such as Tatort and theater works at major German-language theaters. His achievements have been recognized on numerous occasions, including awards and honors from film and theater institutions, confirming his importance as a defining actor in modern German cinema.

Films

Palermo or Wolfsburg

Palermo or Wolfsburg

By Werner Schroeter

1980 | 170 min | Drama

A young Sicilian follows the call of work to Germany. But what begins as a dream ends in coldness, violence, and disappointment.

The Case of Mr. Spalt

The Case of Mr. Spalt

By René Perraudin

1988 | 95 min | Timeless

The filmmaker René Perraudin made five comedic short films with Otto Sander in the leading role and combines them into feature film story.

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