Nosferatu - German expressionism
The film chosen in relation to
German Expressionism is Nosferatu:
Symphony of Horrors (1922) directed by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau.
The film is a graphic adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula. The plot is fairly similar to the novel, with some significant changes with regards to certain characters (as well as their names). Its genre is horror and durates for an hour.
Based in the 19th century, the plot revolves around Count Orlok’s (Dracula) plot to leave the dangers of living in Transylvania and live off the living in Wisborg, a village in Germany (in contrast to London in the novel) and Thomas Hutter’s (Jonathan Harker) plan to save his love and the village.
The film is a graphic adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula. The plot is fairly similar to the novel, with some significant changes with regards to certain characters (as well as their names). Its genre is horror and durates for an hour.
Based in the 19th century, the plot revolves around Count Orlok’s (Dracula) plot to leave the dangers of living in Transylvania and live off the living in Wisborg, a village in Germany (in contrast to London in the novel) and Thomas Hutter’s (Jonathan Harker) plan to save his love and the village.
Just to start, German expressionism
is a movement in art, literature and media that developed due to the reaction
of Germany ’s younger
generation against Germany America
between 1920’s and 30’s and there was a high influence on the style of
filmmaking in Hollywood
In fact, the film Nosferatu is a key
example of German expressionism. Lighting, music, character portrayal and
setting all highlight the emotional aspects of this movement. Also, the
narrative itself highlights a social issue that was a global health concern
around the world: The Black Plague:
(Screenshot from the film, taken by Windows Media Player)
The Black Plague is portrayed in the
film as Count Orlok’s effect on people, symbolized by the rats that follow him.
The music and character portrayal
are both synced together to bring out the film’s emotions through the
characters and the ongoing plot (the basic message of German Expressionism).
Certain characters, such as Orlok, are emphasised by different instruments.
Orlok’s case was done by shrill high notes played by organs.
The lighting and setting of the film is also synced as the contrasting black and white colours and locations with different shades and areas that were present in the times of
There are some of point of views such as Close ups, Cut-Ins and Mid-shots which highlight
different emotions as well as Long shots that set the scene. But most
importantly the visual styles are cleverly manipulated in order to bring out
the genre’s film. Night scenes, dark intense shadows on the walls, grotesque
figures, deep focus camera shots and low-key lighting are all combined to
create such a horror film. Another important aspect is the use of Chiaroscuro: the
use of areas of light and darkness in a painting: (by Caravaggio) which clearly develops a bold
contrast affecting the whole composition of the scene.
To Sum up, Nosferatu which is closely related to German expressionism, gives this horrifying taste through different aspects. As discussed above, there is a significant influence by the German filmmakers mainly on the Visual styles; the Chiaroscuro. Even if no one talks in the whole film, it is still a successive one and I believe that today's filmmakers will seek relative inspiration in order to build their own.
Bibliography:
Movie List on mubi.com. 2013. German Expressionism: The World of Light and Shadow. [ONLINE] Available at: <http://mubi.com/lists/german-expressionism-the-world-of-light-and-shadow>.
[Accessed 18 December 2013].
Guides for the UMD community at
University of Maryland Libraries
Camera Shots. 2013. Camera Shots. [ONLINE] Available at:<http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/>
[Accessed 18 December 2013].
IMDb. 2013. Nosferatu (1922). [ONLINE] Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0013442/?ref_=nv_sr_1>
[Accessed 18 December 2013].
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