German Expressionism

## Major Figures

* Fritz Lang
* F.W. Murnau
* Robert Wiene

* The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
* Nosferatu (1921)
* Waxworks (1924)
* Metropolis (1927)
* M (1931)

"*I am profoundly fascinated by cruelty, fear, horror and death. My films show my preoccupation with violence, the pathology of violence*"
— Fritz Lang

**German Expressionism** is a film movement that lasted from the 1910s to the 1930s, dying out as World War II began. Filmmakers used visual distortion and hyper-expressive performance to show inner turmoils, fears and desires of that era. It reflects the inner conflicts of its 1920s German audience by giving their woes an inescapably external presence. By rejecting cinematic realism, expressionist films showcase dramatic, revolutionary interpretations of the human condition. The trend for shadows, angst and exaggerated sets, the movement laid the foundations for everything from film noir to the horror genre.

## History

In 1916, the German government decided to ban all foreign films. With a sudden demand for more domestic titles, there was an understandably dramatic increase in the number of films produced in Germany each year. However, German audiences had become less preferential towards romance and action flicks since the beginning of WWI, and themes of violence, cruelty and betrayal become more relevant topics for discussion. This unfortunate set of circumstances, along with the constant fear of hyperinflation, provided a platform for daring, innovative filmmakers such as Fritz Lang (*Metropolis*) and F.W. Murnau (*Nosferatu*) to make German Expressionism one of the most important and influential movements in cinematic history.

The extreme anti-realism of Expressionism was short-lived, fading away after only a few years. However, the themes of Expressionism were integrated into later films of the 1920s and 1930s, resulting in an artistic control over the placement of scenery, light, etc. to enhance the mood of a film. This dark, moody school of film making was brought to the United States when the Nazisgained power and many German filmmakers emigrated to Hollywood. These German directors found U.S. movie studios willing to embrace them, and several German directors and cameramen flourished there, producing a repertoire of Hollywood films that had a profound effect. The rise of the Nazis effectively marked an end to the movement, although its influence was clear and massive.

## Influence

The traits of German expressionism can be seen in Alfred Hitchcock’s early silent work. Many of Tim Burton’s films are thought to be modern expressionism.

George Lucas also took inspiration from *Metropolis (1927)* for *Star Wars (1977)*. Metropolis was even adapted into a manga and in 2001 a feature length anime film titled *Metropolis (2001)*.

It’s very possible that these films will continue to not only inspire but also even be remade. And there’s still the hope that missing scenes and lost films will resurface somewhere in the world. The Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Foundation will be active in continuing to restore these important films.

## See also

* German Cinema
* Chiaroscuro
* Burtonesque

## References

1. ↑ https://www.bfi.org.uk/lists/10-great-german-expressionist-films
2. ↑ https://www.movementsinfilm.com/german-expressionism
3. ↑ http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/18-important-film-movements-every-movie-buff-should-know/