The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari film review
Directed by Robert Weine, 1920
German Expressionist techniques:
Impossible geometries, especially in the set sceneryused oblique angles and non-parallel lines
The use of high contrast in the make up and costuming
The Cabinet of Dr Caligari is an interesting film, where the majority of the story takes place in the form of flashbacks. The flashbacks are identified by the German expressionist techniques listed above, which makes the film visually interesting. Unfortunately the film is very much a product of the production and editing techniques of the time, which results in a very lengthy, slow-paced film. Additionally, the plot and it's subsequent twists have been referenced, copied and parodied enough during the century since its theatrical release that they have since become cliche. I would recommend the film on a basis of the visual aesthetic used and for the history of films and the use of German expressionist techniques, but little else.
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