Lived his youth in Australia, and returned to Germany to study Literature and Music in the 1970s. His film directorial work started in 1981, and has been focused mostly on ***** characters, both impotent and neurotic. Those persona are recurrent characters in his films, or make odd appearances only. Of those people, many have influenced the music score of Sempel's films. Besides music, the films are all marked by a travelogue through the various countries the Director visits to meet his characters.