André Eisermann
(Elias Johannes Alder)
Eisermann was born in Worms, German in 1968 to a family of travelling showpeople.He grew up on the road, staying in one location for no more than three weeks at a time. His grandmother, whose real name was Paas, was an "Indian rubber" acrobat,
and his great-grandfather was one of "the strongest men in the world."
Eisermann completed his training as an actor at the Otto Falckenberg Schule Für Schauspiel in Munich. After various engagements at the Bavarian State Theater as well as Munich's Kammerspiele, he made his film debut in DURST in 1993. He achieved an international success the same year for his starring role in KASPER HAUSER (KASPER HAUSER - VERBRECHEN AM SEELENLEBEN EINES MENSCHEN) by Peter Sehr. Eisermann won numerous awards for his performance including the Actor's Prize at the Locarno Film Festival, the German Film Prize, the Bavarian Film Prize and the Prix "Lino Ventura" in Valenciennes.
Most recently, Eisermann completed THE CASTLE, an adaptation of Kafka's novel of the same title, by Austrian director Michael Hanneke. In 1994, Eisermann became a member of the Thalia Theater in Hamburg, one of the most prestigious theaters in Germany. There, he worked with two icons of European theater -- George Tabori and the late Ruth Berghaus.
Eisermann's voice can currently be heard as "Quasimodo" in Walt Disney's THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE-DAME. He will appear at the Salzburg Festival this summer as "Puck," in the Festival's new production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
The role of Johannes Elias Alder in Brother of Sleep means much more to the actor than portraying a mountain farm boy, (who at the age of 22 kills himself by deciding to no longer sleep). Eisermann wants to do justice to the man.
On his character, Eisermann says, "The character of Elias believes in the principle that 'true love does not search for flesh, but gives itself up to soul'. What a mistake! Nevertheless, from my own experience, I share this kind of behavior. Just as Elias believes in his God, I became aware of such an existence. I do not mean 'God' as a person, but as a way of living that supports me. Elias is torn between the music that drives him and his love for Elsbeth. Since feelings never find a 'middle ground,' but only extremes, extreme situations arise. Elias, like so many other people in this
world, can no longer live under such pressure and decides to die."
Last Modified 05-September-1996
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