CINEMA: GERMAN EXPRSSIONISM (1919-1926)

German Expressionism: History

After the World War I, a new film style in Germany begun. The exact date of this movement must be in 1917, when UFA (Universum Film Aktiengesellschaft), a large company that helps to spread German stylistic influence abroad was founded.

In September 1919, UFA was finally able to break into the international market and during this year, a stylistic movement came as a result because of the success of the film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) that created sensation in different countries because of its film style which is the “Expressionist Stlye”. Its success and other expressionist films that followed kept the avant-garde directors in Germany. And by mid-1920s, indeed, a lot of German films became hit and known to be the best in the world.

By 1987, Unfortunately German Expressionism as a movement had died out because of combination of circumstances. The movement lasted only about seven years but the “Expressionism” which created an influence in film style, never disappeared.

German Expressionism: Style

The style of German Expressionist film depends heavily on mise-en-scene. It can be identified by the immense amount of cinematic exaggeration. Its shapes are distorted and exaggerated urealistically to convey meanings.

German Expressionism: Influences and Films

German Expressionism also became very influential because a lot of German filmmakers came to the United States, Hollywood films tend to display expressionism. It was an influence also on the style of Film Noir to being a huge influence on horror films. The use of expressionist style in their settings and lighting can be seen in horror films such as Son of Frankenstein (1939).

The most well remembered German expressionist films are The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (Robert Weiner, 1920), Nosferatu (F.W. Murnau, 1922), Faust (F. W. Murnau, 1926) and Metropolis (Fritz Lang, 1927).