The director, producer and author Rainer Erler is dead. He died on Wednesday at the age of 90 in his adopted home of Perth, Australia, his family said. Erler’s work includes more than 40 feature films, 14 novels, a good two dozen short stories and short stories as well as five stage works. His works were socially critical, forward-looking and always provided material for discussion. He filmed in more than 30 countries, hired excellent actors and helped some of them achieve international fame.
Rainer Erler, born in Munich in 1933, grew up in Solln. After graduating from the Ickinger Rainer-Maria-Rilke-Gymnasium in 1952, he assisted the director Rudolf Jugert for eight years. Rainer Erler acquired his craft in the film studios of Munich, Hamburg, Berlin and Vienna, among others. He also assisted the directors Harald Braun, Kurt Hoffmann and Franz Peter Wirth. However, he learned to produce films from Eric Prommer, the producer of the film “Metropolis”.
He met his wife Renate in 1960. The two married a year later. The couple built a spectacular house in Bairawies in the municipality of Dietramszell. There, in his bright, large studio with a view of nature, Erler wrote most of his works. In 1972 Rainer and Renate Erler founded the production company Pentagramma. Since then the two have worked together brilliantly. The first self-produced film, “Seven Days,” takes place in Geretsried and focuses on the conflict between the profession and vocation of a Protestant pastor. Other filming locations in the district were Bad Tölz, Königsdorf and Wolfratshausen.
Erler’s five-part series “The Blue Palace” is considered one of the best science fiction productions on German television with original locations in Thailand, Hong Kong and the USA. One of his most successful films was the psychological thriller “Fleisch,” which Erler shot in America. In it he discussed organ trafficking as early as 1979. For the leading role, the director cast the then 25-year-old actress Jutta Speidel, who became internationally known through the film. “Meat” was shown in 127 countries.
He has been honored with numerous national and international awards for his works. In 2004, Rainer Erler received the German Fantasy Prize from the city of Passau and the Federal Cross of Merit, which was awarded to him by the then Federal President Johannes Rau, for his entire work.
Since 1982, the Erlers have had their second home in Perth, Australia. Rainer Erler died there on Wednesday, November 8th, surrounded by his family.