SUMMARY: German Expressionism in Film

German Expressionism is an artistic film movement established in the prolific European filmmaking industry following World War I. It flourished in the 1920s, especially in Germany in the “golden age” of cinema, due to fewer restrictions and less strict production schedules.

Expressionism is a style of art, literature, drama and in film used to represent external reality in a believable way but emotions in striking and stylized ways. 

This movement gives emphasis on the mise-en-scene. It has the characteristics of distorted and exaggerated settings, with heavy, dark and dramatic shadows, unnatural space in composition, distorted or slanted angular shots, unnatural costumes and make-up, unpleasant characters, stylized acting and plots that often dealt with madness, insanity, betrayal and intellectual topics.

Expressionist films also had horror themes where darkness and shadows are in.

German expressionistic films have a strong and significant influence in the development of American films in the late 20s up to 40s, notably the horror film cycle of Universal Studios in the 30s, film noir in the 40s and even sci-fi.

The most famous German Expressionism film is Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

Summary: Surrealism in Film

Surrealism in film originated in Paris in the 1920s. It is characterized by the frequent use of shocking imagery and draws upon irrational imagery and the subconscious mind.

The style used in Surrealist film is also the style used in a Surrealist painting where exaggerated images are drawn. It is a movement where something unnatural object is in a film. Just like in Un Chien Andalou of Bunuel and Dali, there is a scene there in a room where a piano and a dead horse is there. For me, it's the directors way to make the viewers think of what it really means.

Another scene is the scene where an eye is cut by a blade. It is disgusting but something behind that shot is the most important. In a surrealist film, you think of the meaning.