Robby Muller, Dutch cinematographer of Dancer in the Dark, Repo Man, Paris, Texas passes away aged 78

Robby Muller, the Dutch cinematographer who was behind ‘80’s and ‘90’s classics like Dancer in the Dark, Down by Law, Repo Man and Paris, Texas died on 4 July in Amsterdam, reports Variety. He was 78 and according to the Dutch publication Het Parool, was already suffering from vascular dementia for several years. Most notable for his collaborations with filmmakers such as Lars von Trier, Alex Cox, Barbet Schroeder, Wim Wenders and Jim Jarmusch, Muller created a plethora of significant auteur films in the 1980’s and 1990’s. [caption id=“attachment_4668971” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Still from Paris, Texas, one of Muller’s most notable films. YouTube screengrab[/caption] The Netherlands Society of Cinematographers told The Hollywood Reporter, that much like the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, Muller “had a permanent influence on the film language overall.” Being a European, Muller’s approach towards the portrayal of Los Angeles was striking in William Friedkin’s To Live and Die in L.A., Schroeder’s Barfly and Cox’s Repo Man. Muller had memorable collaboration with Jarmusch. They include Down by Law, Dead Man, Mystery Train and Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai. Jarmusch tweeted a tribute for the cinematographer and said, “Without him I don’t think I would know anything about filmmaking.”

The last feature that Muller was a part of was Michael Winterbottom’s 2002 24 Hour Party People that portrayed the Manchester music scene in the 1980’s. He also collaborated with director Steve McQueen on an art installation, Carib’s Leap, the same year. He is survived by his wife Andrea Muller and a son.