The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1921)

User Review

• 

  BarneyNuttall

  9 / 10

  This film is the perfect blend of art and film. Made during the GermanExpressionist movement, the set is angular and sharp with Escher-like impossibilities. Meanwhile, shadows dissect the small town, making for daggers of darkness at every turn.
  
  The film addresses many concerns of the time. Modern medicine is explored in the film, particularly in regards to mental health, with the persona of Caligari perhaps being a metaphor for mental health and it's detrimental effects. Cesare, the sleepless victim to Caligari, represents the lower classes of the time, forced to do things they find 'repugnant' by the upper classes. Jane briefly addresses woman's suffrage, stating 'we queens are not free to answer the call of our heart' as she rejects the proposal of Francis.
  
  The film is a testament to the birth of cinema, where filmmakers were beginning to realize the artistic potential of cinema. The piece is both a cinematic and artistic masterpiece which, while isn't scary, is certainly poignant.

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