Introduction
Christopher J. "Chris" Kraus (born 1963 in Göttingen) is a German author and film director.
Life and work
Chris Kraus was employed as a journalist and illustrator before attending the Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin from 1991–98, where he studied film directing. Beginning in 1994, he worked as a dramatic advisor and screenplay writer for directors Volker Schlöndorff, Rosa von Praunheim, and Detlev Buck, among others.
In 2002 his first novel was published, titled Scherbentanz (Shattered Glass). He then also made a film based on this book, with the help of Margit Carstensen and Jürgen Vogel. The story has to do with the relationship between a young man who suffers from Leukemia and his mother, who herself suffers with alcoholism. In 2006 Kraus made his second feature film, Four Minutes, starring Monica Bleibtreu, Hannah Herzsprung and Nadja Uhl. Even before its official premiere in February, 2007, this film gained a great deal of attention at international film festivals. Its story centers on a musically talented young woman serving time in prison for murder.
Chris Kraus lives in Berlin, and gives regular academic lectures on filmmaking.
Awards
- 2002 Bavarian Film Award, Best New Director
- 2006 Bavarian Film Award, Best Screenplay
Filmography
- 1999: The Einstein of Sex
- 2000: Lovebabe
- 2002: Scherbentanz
- 2004: Basta. Red Wine or Death
- 2004: Acapulco
- 2006: Four Minutes
- 2008: Bella Block: Trip to China (TV film)
- 2010: The Poll Diaries