Bernd Schroeder


Bernd Schroeder was a German writer who authored books, television plays, film scripts, and audio plays. He also directed audio plays. He co-authored the bestseller novel Alte Liebe with Elke Heidenreich, and received several awards including the Grimme-Preis.

Life and career

Schroeder was born in Aussig, Reichsgau Sudetenland, when his parents fled during World War II. He grew up in Fürholzen near Neufahrn, Upper Bavaria. He attended the and finished with the Abitur. He studied theatre science, German studies and ethnology at the University of Munich from 1966.
Schroeder first worked, already during his studies, as assistant director for the broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk. He wrote film scripts from 1968, including for Wolfgang Petersen. He directed audio plays, both his own and of others. In 1986, he was awarded the Grimme-Preis for , together with Hans-Werner Schmidt. In 1992, he received the German Film Award. He wrote novels from 1993. Schroeder was a member of the PEN Centre Germany.
Schroeder married Elke Heidenreich in 1972. They collaborated on audio plays in the 1970s, and wrote books together after they separated in 1995, Rudernde Hunde in 2002, and Alte Liebe in 2009, which became a bestseller. They are the speakers in an audio play after Alte Liebe. He summarised his work: "Ich schreibe ja immer aus dem Steinbruch meines eigenen Lebens heraus."
Schroeder's last residence was Ahrenshoop. He died on 18 June 2023, at the age of 79.

Works

Books

  • with Hanns Dieter Hüsch: Hanns Dieter Hüsch hat jetzt zugegeben… . Arche Verlag, 1985,.Versunkenes Land : ein Roman. 1993.Die Madonnina. 2001.
  • with Elke Heidenreich: Rudernde Hunde. 2002.Mutter & Sohn : Erzählung. 2004.Hau. 2006.
  • mit Dieter Hildebrandt: Ich mußte immer lachen. Kiepenheuer & Witsch 2006.
  • with Elke Heidenreich: Alte Liebe. Hanser 2009,.Auf Amerika. Roman. Hanser, München 2012,. Wir sind doch alle da. Hanser, München 2013.Warten auf Goebbels. Hanser, München 2017.

Screenplays

Schroeder's screenplays include:8051 Grinning, 1972, TV film, directed by Peter BeauvaisSittengemälde, 1973, TV film, directed by Eberhard ItzenplitzNestwärme, 1973, TV film, directed by Eberhard ItzenplitzMünchner Gschichtn, 1974, TV series, 2 episodes, directed by Herbert VeselyMünchnerinnen, 1975, TV film, directed by Eberhard Itzenplitz', 1975, TV film, directed by Wolfgang PetersenHahnenkampf, 1975, TV film, directed by Lutz BüscherDie Herausforderung, 1975, TV film, directed by Michael Verhoeven
  • ', 1976, TV film, directed by Wolfgang Petersen', 1977, directed by Michael VerhoevenNotwehr, 1977, TV film, directed by Hartmut GriesmayrMenschenfresser, 1977, TV film, directed by Rainer BoldtBier und Spiele, 1978, TV series of 14 episodes, directed by Michael VerhoevenQualverwandtschaften, 1982, TV film, directed by Ulrich HeisingKein schöner Land, 1982, TV series of 6 episodes, directed by Klaus EmmerichGlückspilze, 1984, TV series, 2 episodes, directed by Bernd Schroeder
  • ', 1985, TV miniseries, directed by Wolfgang Staudte and Hans‑Werner SchmidtPreisausschreiben, 1985, TV film, directed by Bernd SchroederDa Capo, 1986, TV film, directed by Bernd SchroederFraulein, 1986, TV film, directed by Michael HanekeDreifacher Rittberger, 1987, TV series in 5 episodes, book by Elke Heidenreich, directed by Bernd Schroeder, 1991, directed by Klaus Emmerich

Audio plays

Schroeder's audio plays include:Kreuzerlschreiber, 1969, directed by Hellmuth KirchammerZwischenbilanz, 1970, directed by Edmund SteinbergerMiteinander-Füreinander, 1971, directed by Alexander MalachowskyDie Geburtstag der Gaby Hambacher, 1971, directed by Wolf EubaHans, 1975, directed by SchroederRentenheirat, 1977, directed by SchroederAlte Bäume, 1977–80, series of 12 short audio plays, directed by Otto Düben et.al.Versunkenes Land, 1995, in two parts, directed by SchroederWasser für Bayern, 1996–2000, series in 14 episodes, directed by SchroederUnter Brüdern, 1999, in two parts, directed by Schroeder

Plays

Schroeder's plays include:Kater Lampe; 1979, arranged for the stage for Volksbühne BerlinGeneral Mutter, 2013