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And Nosferatu: A Comparison Of Two Great Examples Of German Expressionism

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Caligari and Nosferatu: A Comparison of Two Great Examples of German Expressionism For almost a century now, two great films have managed to horrify and captivate audiences with their unique approach to storytelling and striking, outlandish visuals. Both films, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and Nosferatu still remain relevant and interesting to today’s audiences, not just from a historical or educational standpoint, but still manage to provide ample entertainment as well. In the early 1920s, towards the end of the silent movie era, film was radically changing in many ways. These films are both part of a movement called German Expressionism. One can very clearly see that the visual aspects of the storytelling were unlike any other films before, and many say the directors were ahead of their time by decades. Many of the aspects that made these movies withstand time are influenced by the german expressionism movement. The emotional effect these movies rendered unto audiences is exactly why they still garnish attention nearly a hundred years later. …show more content…

The telltale trait of this genre of art was a distortion of reality to provide some deep emotional effect unto the viewer. Film subjected to this movement was no different, and rather than aim for a more traditional, and realistic approach to storytelling, would use jagged, geometric shapes and minimal backgrounds. The films were dark and often had a foreboding feeling accompanying the movie’s atmosphere and a large part often involved the supernatural. Both these films showcased the style of the German Expressionist movement wonderfully, but

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