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As German film becoming stranger and darker, their filmmakers would like to disorient audience and immerse them in the main characters’ head. (CrashCourse 2017)
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Before the war, German films fell firmly within our idea of a “cinema of attractions”, designed for entertainment. (CrashCourse 2017)
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To achieve a more sophisticated film, they get inspired by the French ‘film d’art’ movement. Filmmakers start to pay attention to the craft of narrative filmmaking, focus on a specific character with his complex experiences. They called this kind of film Autorenfilm. (CrashCourse 2017)
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Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, the small studio changed the face of cinema. Caligari prefers to use mise-en-scène expressionistically, rather than realistically (CrashCourse 2017)
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The main idea of German Expressionism: using an exaggerated, distorted mise-en-scène to reflect the inner psychology of the characters. In other words, Visualize the character’s mind and emotions. (CrashCourse 2017)
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It is also the world’s first taste of highly subjective filmmaking as well – putting us in the mind of an insane main character and making us experience the world as he does. (CrashCourse 2017)
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Main method: given its anti-authoritarian themes, exaggerated rise-en-scène, subjective point of view and the twist ending. (CrashCourse 2017)
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Director: Fritz Lang, start architect and use elements of it in his film. His films depict grand, epic spaces and he pays attention to the details and structure of his narratives. (CrashCourse 2017)
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Director: F.W. Murnau, focus on camera movement to show the inner of characters (CrashCourse 2017)
- In conclusion, the German expressionism is more focus on the inner mind and emotions of the character. Filmmakers present their ideas by giving audiences a ‘tour’ through the character’s complex experiences and stories. The main idea regards the art of expression rather than the showing the image of reality.
Reference:
CrashCourse 2017, German Expressionism: Crash Course Film History #7, Youtube, CrashCourse, U.S, viewed 28 August 2018, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6XDyth0qxc>.
OpenCulture 2017, What Is German Expressionism? A Crash Course on the Cinematic Tradition That Gave Us Metropolis, Nosferatu & More, OpenCulture, viewed 28 August 2018, <http://www.openculture.com/2017/06/what-is-german-expressionism.html>.