The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: 1920

   The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a German Expressionist film made in 1920.  It was directed by Robert Wiene from a screenplay by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer.  I feel as though expressionistic films are very symbolic to how everything is portrayed.  Nothing looks how it would if it were really there, so it makes you feel as though your not their either, but that you can make what you want of it.  Everything is relatively different depending on the perspective of each person viewing it.  


   Compared to Nosferatu, there is some variety to the scores placed in the movie, but it also has some familiarity with each score based on each situation, which is how it should be.  However, let me be clear about this:  you must be in the right mood to watch this, and frankly at the moment, I am not.  But aside from that I can argue that this is strange as it is creative, as most expressionist films are.  I'm beginning to adore German Expressionist architecture.  Everything is really close together and tall, the windows and doors are anything but square, and its kind of like becoming entranced.  


   Its pure imagination at its finest.  The space seems a little restricted sometimes, as if the director had to fit everything in one shot on a stage.  There is also a repeated scenario with the somnambulist, Cesare, how a possessed man goes about murdering civilians util he meets a girl.  This hasn't  been the first time that a damsel has been chased by a beast.(Note:  The first Frankenstein film was made in 1910;  the scenario has been prone to repetition ever since)


   In Conclusion:  I only recommend this film to hard-core viewers. This was very strange, but enchanting at the same time.  The architecture is fun to look at and the atmosphere is frightening to some extent, but more strange than frightening.  However, I didn't enjoy this as much as, "Nosferatu" mostly because that film had a much more clearer story line, and it was easier to make out what was going on.  If you want to see this film then take a look at, "Nosferatu" first.  If you like, "Nosferatu", then you'll also enjoy, "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari".  I also heard that there was a 2005 remake of the film, but i don't know anything about that.  If you would like to learn more about the 2006 version of, "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" click on this link: ima learn more about, "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari": 2005!.  If you'd like to watch the original version just click this......Oh!  Wait a second!  I have the full movie right now!  Finally!  

3 and a half stars


Live the life surreal,
Vérité


     

      Next Review:  Carnival of Souls 1962