His debut film, El Brazo Fuerte (The Strong Arm, 1958), a political satire that was barred from cinema exhibitions until 1974, is recognized as groundbreaking.

In World War II the family returned to The Hague where Korporaal attended high school.

Using the name Giovanni Corporale, he had a small role in Ladri di Biciclette (1948), a film with only non-professional actors that gained an Oscar nomination.

[6] El brazo fuerte was exhibited and well received at the Cannes Film Festival in 1961, including by the Dutch press who discovered their countryman.

[7] Following the success in Cannes, Korporaal received an invitation by Joop Landré to make a film for the Dutch Filmproduction Company.

De vergeten medeminnaar (The forgotten co-lover), a psychological fiction drama with Henk van Ulsen as the lead actor and music by Pim Jacobs, received critical acclaim.

[11] Back in Mexico Korporaal worked as video editor for Mexican television at the coverage of the 1968 Summer Olympics and directed a series of short documentaries.