We watched The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari in class. Watch Nosferatu on your own...you might want to watch it with the lights on.
German Expressionism was developed at a precarious time period in history. These two films present underlying issues that were taking place in Germany at the time. What are these issues and how are they presented cinematically? Include at least one quote from a reputable source (preferably the essays I handed out to you) and include evidence from the films to back up everything you say.
What specific innovations in film style were developed in these two films? Choose either Cabinet OR Nosferatu AND one film of your choice and compare the two films. Be specific and thorough and speak cinematically.
The Cabinet of Dr Caligari and Nosferatu are both German Expressionist films that address the underlying issues taking place in Germany during that time period. These issues can be summarized by the abuse of power/authority, and the negative effects of repression during the 1920s. These issues are presented cinematically through the two films because of the chaos and disorder Germany was in at the time. The Cabinet of Dr Caligari presents the issue of a tyrant being portrayed as benevolent while the victim is portrayed as untrustworthy. It is revealed that the narrator of the story is insane and unreliable, while “the evil doctor was re-defined as a benign, ministering figure who can cure the lunatic” (White). This quote suggests how a dictator like Hitler could come to power in Germany during this time period; he was originally presented as a leader who could lead Germany out of unemployment and turmoil, all the while being a fascist dictator, who severely punished anyone who spoke out against him. This situation was depicted in Cabinet of Dr Caligari through Francis being revealed to be insane and unreliable as the end, and Dr Caligari, the actual insane doctor, is accepted by the people as a kind and altruistic doctor ready to cure Francis.
ReplyDeleteNosferatu presents the issue of evil repressed forces being released through the vampire, Count Orlok, and the social and psychological implications of his character. Because the film was produced during the Victorian era, the major issue it addressed was unrepressed sexuality and perversion as a negative aspect of humanity. Nosferatu is a manifestation of these characteristics by portraying the “repressed forces as evil, their release cataclysmic” (Wood). This interpretation of a vampire, symbolizing repressed sexuality and its disastrous release, along with Nosferatu’s hideous appearance in the movie effectually create an extremely negative depiction of promiscuity and sexuality, and its release during the Victorian era. Overall, these two German Expressionist films effectively convey that out of disorder and confusion can come a dictator posing as a savior, and out of constant repression can come the devastating cost of doing so.
The Cabinet of Dr Caligari is the definitive German Expressionist film, utilizing an almost stage-like background in some scenes with crooked, angular, and slanted qualities. This is similar to A Trip to the Moon (Melies) in the sense that both films had scenes in which it seemed like a stage performance had been filmed. This technique gave both films a theatrical tone and emphasized the overplayed acting, a norm in German Expressionism.
Nosferatu and the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari are both influential films in the German Expressionist movement. They depict the underlying issues of Germany at the time through the uses of mise-en-scene and narrative. The demonstration of the hardships in Germany is displayed through mise-en-scene with jagged sets, distorted objects and atmosphere as well as excessive use of makeup. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari for example, is constructed in a way which the town is distorted, relating to the man's state of mind which can be argued as insanity or the suppression of individuality and the ability to rebel against the tyranny. Germany at this time (1920) was in turmoil due to the political state and reparations that needed to be paid to Europe after WW1. White gives an accurate idea of Germany where he states “-the inherent tensions of the collective german psyche of the period-the fear that individual freedom will lead to rampant chaos which can only be constrained by submission to tyrannical authority.” White gives an appraisal of francis and how his quest to expose Caligari was debunked by concluding the film with the idea he was insane, this mirrors germans at that time who attempted to rise up against the tyranny but were assumed crazy. Nosferatu mirrors Germany at this time period through the theme of “sexual repression”(wood). The vampire embodies all the taboo sexual identities that Germany that were frowned upon. By writing the female character as the antagonist towards Nosferatu, his sexual isolation towards the world was further emphasized.Also by utilizing excessive makeup on characters, specifically Nosferatu, he became more repulsive, highlighting his social isolation because of his appearance. The situation in Germany was similar to this because due to the depressive state of the people sexuality did not flourish as it once did.
ReplyDeleteDr. Cagliari popularized the film style of insanity and unreliable protagonists within the narrative. One example, the popular horror film Rosemary's Baby (made 48 years later), has the same style of an unreliable protagonist. Rosemary is convinced by the people around her that she is in fact insane and that her baby is perfectly healthy. However, at the end, she witnesses the satanic cult worshiping her baby who is the antichrist. This film can be interpreted that she wasn’t crazy at all and only the people are crazy, or she is insane and envisioned this all by herself due to the fluctuating emotions that pregnancy causes. Dr. Caligari is one of the first horror films to have the narrative conclude where there are multiple interpretations of the end and this has been used a multitude of times since.
In both films, the brewing issues in Germany can be shown. In the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, the film depicts someone who is power-hungry, destructive, and with murderous tendencies coming to power and ultimately controlling the outcome of the protagonist. Although the viewer knows that the protagonist is innocent, inherent evil prevails in the end. The dark, expressionistic styles of post- WWI german films often reflects the growing anxiety and societal disruption that was in place before the rise of Hitler. Low-key lighting with dramatic makeup and acting. The uncertainty of the possibility of having an unreliable “narrator”, if you will, adds to the historical aspect of how people were censored and often punished for speaking their mind, especially to people in a position of power.
ReplyDeleteThe film style in Cabinet is characterized by being very dark and with a lot of dramatic shadows- something that would go on to influence several films in the future. For example, most of Tim Burton’s work is heavily shaped by the entire German expressionism movement, but specifically the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. The jagged edges and dark shadows contribute to the overall “creepy” feel to the film.
-DT
ReplyDeleteGerman expressionism produced a variety of films which addressed the underlying issues in Germany at the time. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari contains allegory that refers to the corruption of politics and how a tyrant could manipulate the public. Dr. Caligari represented those in power while the somnambulist/Cesare acted as a citizen who appeared to be under ‘mind control’. The use of abstract makeup and sets reflected the chaotic nature of the somnambulist’s mindset while simultaneously acting as a means to express the intent of the director since individuality was taboo in Germany during that time period (“Krakauer sees the final film as a powerful expression of the inherent tensions of the collective German psyche of the period-”).
Another film that came to be during the period of German Expressionism was Nosferatu, which was set in the “height of Victorian sexual repression.” The underlying themes of madness and sexually transmitted diseases are represented by the vampire in the film, with the addition of cinematic choices such as the characters lurking and the scenes having an abundance of shadows, all of which enhance the dark tone of the movie and the message behind it.
Both The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Nosferatu are prime examples of German Expressionist films that heavily influenced modern day horror and film noir, that being said, these films drew much influence from the social, political, and economic problems that Germany was experiencing during the time which they were made. The most prominent parallels abuse of power seen in Dr. Caligari, who represents Hitler, and the manipulation of the somnambulist, who represents the citizens of Germany at the time. Hitler rose to power as a direct result of the fragile and frantic state that German was in, the citizens were suffering, especially those in the middle class as they were the ones who began to lose their jobs, ration food etc., and they needed someone to lead them politically seeing as the Weimar Republic had failed to do so. The citizens were fearful of the future or their families, their country as a whole, and from this fear Hitler rose to power. He presented them with a reason for their suffering, and a solution, even if it was cruel and inhumane, and if people tried to oppose him, they were part of the problem. This cycle is basically the narrative of the movie, and is also proved by cinematic elements such as costumes and makeup, set design and lighting. The somnambulist, for example, is dressed completely in black with dark makeup that emphases his turbulent mental state, and the fact that Dr.Caligari took advantage of Cesare, making him commit terrible crimes-murder, while he was in the fragile state that he was, directly parallels Hitler taking advantage of Germany’s fear. Set design is also crucial in setting the tone of the film and helps to develop the tone of the movie, as well, as communicate the descent into madness that the community experiences as the murders take place more frequently. The distorted and dark sets that aren’t completely realistic but manipulated and slanted aid in doing so. Lastly the low key lighting is used very often to create contrast, the deep shadows that appear in nearly every shot create a serious and ominous tone.
ReplyDeleteNosferatu was another German Expressionist film that had a massive impact on modern day horror. Not only when it came to set and costume design (much like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) but also the themes against sex and the use of drugs that is still present in horror movies today. Although there is no explicit sexual act in the film, the way that Nosferatu, the villain, hungers for Ellen’s blood, and is driven to the brink of insanity with his cravings, communicates to the audience that sex is a villainous thing. This is seen in the film Terrifier, on Netflix, supports this claim. Any character seen doing drugs or engaging in sexual acts is killed in the movie.
Both The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari and Nosferatu represent the artistic expression of serious social concerns In Pre WWII germany.They both of course take on the form of expressionist films but to go deeper one could say the unarticulated ideas which inspired the impressionist movement were the same ideas that these movies in there respective narratives .Expressionism is the attribute of the latter and the former which communicatively reflects concern for a doomed culture. The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari is most likely set somewhere in Germany so then the question is was it just in good taste that the creators miraculously came up with the idea to paint these jagged distorted sets or is it a reflection The time period.If an attribute of expressionism is that the portrayal highly unusual sets is disorienting and thus reflects madness then it is safe to say that in The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari displaying an entire community this way communicates that madness looms over the area it self.The production design in the film correlates with the bleak ending statement of the film which also expresses concern for Germany.The man who witnesses the hypnotised somnambulist is put in a mental ward under direction of the same doctor who hypnotised the murderer.The somnambulist supposedly predicts the futures of those who ask to which he replies by saying that they have one day left to live.The people he talks to are them killed that night.The somnambulist seems to be a symbol of the nazi party which claimed a destiny whose means of fulfillment were overlooked due to absolute faith in the prophecies of an authoritarian autocrat.Nosferatu is Film which is deeply afraid of represion.The article reviewing is states that “the Expressionists consistently conceived the repressed forces as evil , their release cataclysmic. In Nosferatu the camera traps people in the frame of their bed canopies where nosferatu approaches camera the other frames in disturbingly long long takes.The helplessness implied by the isolation in the bed canopies expresses implicitly that people were unable to stop repressed forces from taking their lives away.In nazi germany many young men were turned into homicidal monsters because they were seduced by an ideology Which rose of an oppressed nation.
ReplyDeleteIn RoseMary’s Baby And the cabinet of Dr.Caligari the relationship between a suspicious victim and an evil hypnotic authoritarian is explored.The portrayal of madness in such a relationship is expressed in a famous shot from Rosemary's baby where she sees her demon baby for the first time.Standing over a black crib she puts her hand over her mouth and sharp shadows exaggerate her extreme reaction.This horrific portrayal of fear seemed to have come straight from expressionism. The crib itself is tall angular and black , its unusual form stands out.The use of exaggerated figure is production design choice which started with Dr.Caligari