From F.W. Murnau to Fritz Lang: five movies that define German expressionism
During the silent era of cinema history, multiple distinct styles took shape that would not only determine the trends of that time but also influence filmmakers more than a century later. Be it the unmistakable physical comedy of Buster Keaton or the celluloid magic of Georges Méliès, an experimental spirit forged the art form we know and love today. Even within this ocean of creativity, one framework that became instantly recognisable and timelessly iconic was the expressionist movement that emerged from Germany.
Identifying that the cinematic medium had the potential to represent realities that were completely unique, the pioneers of German expressionism deviated from the familiar structures of realism in order to shape a new vision of the world. Incorporating elaborate productions, ambiguous chiaroscuros, and unconventional camera angles, they undoubtedly succeeded in proving to their contemporaries that cinema could easily represent complex and strange worlds.
Like most cinematic movements that have burst onto the scene over the years, German expressionism was deeply informed by the bleak socioeconomic realities created by the war. Even though much of its formal rigidity faded away to welcome new styles, the seeds that directors like Robert Wiene and F.W. Murnau sowed kept growing.
Evident in the evolution of genres like horror and film noir, German expressionism continues to cast a long shadow within which modern directors, such as Robert Eggers, love to operate. While the list of expressionist films from that period is extensive, there are a few that should definitely be considered as definitive pieces of the movement’s undying legacy.
Five movies that define German expressionism:
1. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Robert Wiene, 1920)
Probably the first film that anybody thinks of when the topic of German expressionism comes up, Robert Wiene’s 1920 masterpiece, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, isn’t just an important part of the movement but a vital building block of cinema history in general. Starring Werner Krauss as a disturbed hypnotist who uses his skills to condition a subject into becoming a murderer, it’s a timeless story about how dangerously violence can be wielded as a weapon in the hands of those who want to abuse it.
In the vein of most great works of art, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari can be viewed in a seemingly infinite number of ways: as a social critique of German society, as a protest against the war, or even as a dark commentary on the human psyche. However, what sets it apart from some of its contemporaries is the haunting visual style, playing with shadows and perspectives to create a hauntingly distorted vision.
2. The Golem: How He Came into the World (Paul Wegener and Carl Boese, 1920)
A part of a trilogy made by Paul Wegener, The Golem: How He Came into the World uses Jewish folklore to create another immortal expressionist tale. It revolves around the plight of Rabbi Löw, who creates a clay Golem with the hope that it can protect his community from the dangers that want to destroy it. Presented through the cinematography of the acclaimed Karl Freund, it’s a seminal part of expressionist history in more ways than one.
Serving as a prototype for many iconic horror films, such as Frankenstein, the way in which the human-monster dichotomy is shown in Wegener and Boese’s 1920 project is strikingly gentle and even moving at times. Despite its supernatural elements, its depiction of a monster as an artificial construct is also interesting and can be directly linked to many technology-based horror flicks that are being pumped out today.
3. Nosferatu (F.W. Murnau, 1922)
Despite being sued by the estate of Bram Stoker and ordered to be completely eliminated from existence, the immortality of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 opus Nosferatu was always beyond doubt just because of the monumental nature of his work. Another looming influence on almost every single horror movie ever made, Max Schreck’s brilliant portrayal of the vampire Count Orlok has now become almost synonymous with the image of the mythological figure.
Werner Herzog remade it. Robert Eggers is working on his own version now. Still, it’s Murnau’s original that keeps attracting younger generations of audiences because his vision hasn’t lost any of its ability to terrify audiences. In addition to the characteristic shadowy landscapes and gothic symbols that German expressionism championed, Nosferatu is also fascinating because it was ahead of its time, revealing both micro and macro layers of the universe’s inherent terror.
4. Waxworks (Paul Leni, 1924)
Featuring William Dieterle as a young poet who is hired to write background stories for wax models, Paul Leni’s anthology links three episodes that are separated by different time contexts but unified by the central character. What makes Waxworks stand out from some of the other entries on this list is that even though it also pushes the boundary of proto-horror, it’s funny in parts.
Leni, who had a background in set design before transitioning to filmmaking, utilises his experience perfectly while creating the quintessential expressionist atmosphere on Waxworks. Dealing with historical figures like Ivan the Terrible and Jack the Ripper, it’s not only interesting stylistically but also in its treatment of the past.
5. Metropolis (Fritz Lang, 1927)
Any German expressionist list wouldn’t be complete without the contributions of Fritz Lang, and Metropolis might just be the greatest work of art within that particularly illustrious oeuvre. Deciding to create a sci-fi gem that was way ahead of its time with expressionist frameworks, unlike most of his contemporaries, Lang’s masterpiece might be almost 100 years old, but it remarkably shows no signs of ageing at all.
Instead of the landscapes of the past that some other popular expressionist movies depicted, Lang used the movement’s shadows and techniques to construct a stunning portrait of a dystopia from the future. Conducting an incisive critique of socioeconomic inequality and the mindless pursuit of technological progress without considering its impact on the human consciousness, Metropolis is an essential cinematic experience for anyone who wants to feel the true power of the medium.
