Konrad Petzold, a renowned German film director, writer, and actor, was born on April 26, 1930, in Radebeul, as the youngest of six children in a poor family. His parents, a worker and a housewife, instilled in him the importance of perseverance and hard work.
Petzold's early life was marked by an internship at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, where he honed his skills and gained valuable experience. In 1955, he shot his first feature film, a comedy called The Fools Among Us, in Czechoslovakia. This initial success was followed by an adventure film, A Dog in the Marsh, which brought him national recognition, particularly among young people.
However, his next film, The Dress, released in 1961, was met with controversy. Accused of hiding political satire, Petzold was temporarily dismissed from the profession. Despite this setback, he continued to make films, including an adventure film, Der Scout, released in 1983, after the sudden death of Gottfried Kolditz.
Petzold was part of the "second DEFA generation," a group of directors born in East Germany between 1920 and 1930, including Konrad Wolf, Heiner Carow, and Egon Günther. Throughout his career, Petzold explored various genres, including his "american-indian films," which he shot between 1969 and 1974.
Tragically, Petzold passed away on November 12, 1999, in Kleinmachnow, leaving behind a legacy of memorable films and a lasting impact on the world of cinema.
