German Expressionism

German Expressionism was an influential avant-garde film movement that emerged in Germany in the early 20th century, primarily between 1919 and 1926, reaching its peak in the 1920s.

Rejecting cinematic realism, it embraced stylized visuals, exaggerated acting, and subjective narratives to reflect the psychological distress and social anxieties of the post-World War I era. Its distinctive aesthetic: marked by deep shadows, dramatic angles, and surreal set designs, left a lasting mark on genres like film noir and horror.

Characteristics:

Stylized Visuals: Distorted and exaggerated set designs, dramatic camera angles, and chiaroscuro lighting (high-contrast interplay of light and shadow) were used to create a non-realistic, dreamlike, or nightmarish atmosphere.

Emphasis on the Subjective: Films prioritized conveying the emotional and psychological states of characters through visual means, rather than depicting objective reality.

Distorted Sets and Architecture: Angular, asymmetrical architecture, tilted walls, and unnatural perspectives in sets reflected psychological instability and unease.

Chiaroscuro Lighting: Strong contrasts between light and dark symbolized moral ambiguity, hidden threats, and psychological turmoil.

Exaggerated Makeup and Costumes: Theatrical and stylized elements contributed to the overall sense of unreality and emotional intensity.

Dramatic Camera Angles: Unusual camera angles and perspectives aimed to disorient the viewer and reflect characters' inner turmoil or film themes.

Dark and Sinister Themes: The movement explored themes of madness, crime, betrayal, social upheaval, and the supernatural, often reflecting the post-war anxieties of German society.

Key Figures:

Fritz Lang, F. W. Murnau, Robert Wiene

DIRECTORS AND FILMS:

ARTHUR ROBISON

- Warning Shadows

F.W. MURNAU

- Faust

- Journey Into The Night (Der Gang in die Nacht)

- Nosferatu

- Phantom

- The Last Laugh

FRITZ LANG

- Die Nibelungen

- M

- Metroplolis

- Spione

- The Testament of Dr. Mabuse

GEORG WILHELM PABST

- Der Schatz (The Treasure)

HANS WERCKMEISTER

HENRIK GALEEN

- The Student of Prague (1926)

JOE MAY

KARL HEINZ MARTIN

LEO BIRINSKY& PAUL LENI

LEOPOLD JESSNER & LUPU PICK

- Hintertreppe (Backstairs)

LUPU PICK

- Napoleon at Saint Helena

- Scherben (Shattered)

- Sylvester

PAUL LENI

- The Cat And The Canary

- The Man Who Loves

- Waxworks

ROBERT REINERT

ROBERT WIENE

- The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

- The Hands Of Orlac

STELLAN RYE

- The Student of Prague (1913)