Expressionism; the cabinet of Dr. Caligari

This is the first time I have sit and watch a silent movie. At first, I thought it was a scary movie; I did not want to watch. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari silent horror film is artistic.  Some characters are Dr. Caligari, Cesare, Francis, Alan and Jane. The musical sound is captivating and seems a bit haunting. The sound track is the most spooky and creepy. The settings depict characters are zombie-like, shown in black and white pictures. The movie begins with two men in a garden; it seems like the young man Francis is telling his old friend Alan some pass experiences.  Francis tells the story to his old friend Alan. He recalls memories of himself and his fiancée Jane, the story continues scene of town fair, two murders, attempt murder, the murder investigation until it comes back in the garden at the beginning scene. The story is a fantasy made-up by Francis a patient in the hospital with Jane, Cesare and Alan.

 There is a scene of the annual fair in Holstenwall. This scene show Francis and Alan goes to the fair, they went into Dr Caligari cabinet; Dr Caligari awake Cesare from his death-like sleep. They ask Cesare their future. Cesare answer is that they will die before dawn. The next day Alan is found dead. Francis suspects that Cesare is the murderer and inform the town’s police of Cesare’s prediction. Francis begins to spy on Caligari. The next day, Cesare attempts to stab Jane in her bed but he run off with her instead.

 This scene reflects cultural attributes that relates to our society today. Mass culture and authority figures misuse their powers and oppress the working class. The police, the business man and the doctor all seems to show power. As the reading States, “Caligari was supposed to reflect a world of insane murderous authorities and universal conscription for total war”

Expressionism: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari