Alexander Kluge, one of the most influential figures of New German Cinema, dies at 94

The filmmaker and writer Alexander Kluge has died at the age of 94 in Munich, as reported by the publisher Surhkamp which highlights his “brilliantly” perceptive mind and describes him as an “extraordinary” author.

“Alexander Kluge was closely linked to the Suhrkamp publishing house for many decades, as a singular author, explorer of literature, film and theory.and insightful observer of historical and contemporary realities. The trauma of war marked his childhood, and the wars of the present worried him until the end,” highlights the editorial.

Thus, he indicates that, “with his peculiar method, often inspired by cinema, of interweaving stories, documents and reflections, he created new narrative forms and enriched the world of books.” “Suhrkamp was the home of his written work. With the passing of Alexander Kluge, we have lost a great personality, an extraordinary author and a brilliantly perceptive mind.“, he laments.

Kluger was born in Halberstadt (Germany) in 1932 and during his life he was considered one of the most versatile German intellectuals of his time. The filmmaker began studying law, history and sacred music in Marburg and Frankfurt. After being admitted to the bar, he interned with the film director Fritz Lang and established himself in the 1960s and 1970s as one of the most influential representatives of the New German Cinema, which he co-founded and developed both in theory and practice.

As an author, Kluge made a reputation primarily through his short stories and belonged to the group of 47; He also wrote academic and philosophical works. Alexander Kluge received numerous awards for his work, including the Georg Büchner Prize (2003), the German Film Prize (Honorary Prize 2008) and the Theodor W. Adorno Prize (2009).