Edgar Reitz

Studied theatre science, German philology, art history, and publicism in Munich. Published some poems and short stories during early 1950s, co-edited the literature magazine "Spuren". In 1952, he took acting lessons, co-founded a student theatre which became established as the university's studio stage in 1954. He assisted (camera, editing, production) in several films during mid-50ies, became script adviser in the educational film production company 'Gesellschaft für bildende Filme (GBF)' in 1957. He started directing his own short documentaries, industrial films, and short films in 1959. In the same year, 'Edgar Reitz' (qv), 'Herbert Vesely' (qv), 'Haro Senft' (qv), 'Raimund Ruehl' (qv), and 'Franz-Josef Spieker' (qv) founded 'Doc 59' aka 'Münchener Gruppe' which prepared the 'Oberhausener Manifest' of 1962. From 1962-65, Reitz directed a department at the 'Insel-Film' production company. In 1963, 'Edgar Reitz' (qv) and 'Alexander Kluge' (qv) initiated the foundation of the film department at 'Hochschule für Gestaltung' (College for Design) in Ulm. Reitz' first feature, _Table for Love (1967)_ (qv), is among the many debuts in the aftermath of the Oberhausener Manifest which shaped the term 'New German Cinema'.::Frank Schlueter <frs@krypta.in-berlin.de>