Lenz, Jürgen
Filming Das blaue Licht © DEFA-Stiftung, Jürgen Hoeftmann
Biography:
Jürgen Lenz was born in Berlin on May 20, 1942. He studied German literature and art history, before studying cinematography at the German Academy for Film in Potsdam-Babelsberg (now the Academy for Film and Television).
In 1969, Lenz joined the DEFA Studio for Feature Films. He got his first practical experience as a cameraman filming films such as Mein lieber Robinson (1970, dir. Roland Gräf) and Die Taube auf dem Dach (1973, dir. Iris Gusner). His first film as the director of cinematography was the television comedy Fischzüge, followed by the DEFA children’s film Das blaue Licht.
He has worked with many internationally known directors, including Bernhard Wicki, Helma Sanders-Brahms, and Peter von Gunten.
Lenz has reflected on his life and work in an extensive interview conducted by Christel Gräf and published in Kamera läuft (Camera!, DEFA Text series, 2007, by Peter Badel), a collection of interviews with former East German cinematographers.
Filmography:
1998–2010 | Unser Charly (Our Charly, TV series) |
1995 | Jetzt leben - Juden in Berlin (Live Now - Jews in Berlin, doc.) |
1992 | Karlakórinn Hekla (Men’s Choir) |
1992 | Apfelbäume (Apple Trees) |
1991 |
Farßmann oder zu Fuß in die Sackgasse (Farssmann, or On Foot Down a Dead End) |
1990 | Albert Einstein (doc., TV) |
1988 | Pestalozzis Berg (Pestalozzi’s Mountain) |
1987 | Sansibar oder Der letzte Grund (Zanzibar or The Last Reason, co-cinematographer) |
1982 | Mein Vater ist ein Dieb (My Dad Is a Thief) |
1980 | Asta, mein Engelchen (Asta, My Little Angel) |
1979 | Einfach Blumen aufs Dach (Just Put Flowers on the Roof) |
1977 | Ein irrer Duft von frischem Heu (The Wonderful Smell of Fresh Hay) |
1976 | Die unverbesserliche Barbara (Incorrigible Barbara) |
1975 | Das blaue Licht (The Blue Light) |
1975 | Bankett für Achilles (Banquet for Achilles) |
1975 | Fischzüge (Fish Migrations, TV) |
1972 | Lützower |