Cinema German Expressionism

During the development of silent film era of cinema, there are some very influential movement in the world, one of which is the flow of expressionism in Germany. Expressionism itself originated from the term painting and poetry before developing into the art of literature, performing arts, building until finally the art of film. Expressionism is a stream that expresses the human mind in the abstract; flow that emphasizes the emotional and personal reaction to an artist; different from the flow of realism that gave priority to the work exactly like the original form.

Starting at the beginning of the First World War when the German film industry began to be supported by the government due to their lack of film production. The result is a sharp increase productivity and new studios also began to appear. To control the production and distribution of German films, the government and form a film company called Ufa (Universelfilm Aktiengesellschaft) in 1917. Productivity was growing film and German films and even becoming known internationally. Competition is increasingly intense, especially from Hollywood films, German film industry forced to think hard to produce new works that can compete with foreign production.

In 1919, a small studio called Decla recruited two writers, Carl Meyer and Hans Janowitz that has a unique screenplay. They wanted a film produced with different styles. Artistic director, Hermann Warm, Walter Reinman, and Walter Rohrig and then propose the film was made with the style of expressionism. Finally a movie called, Cabinet of Dr. Caligary (1919) directed by Robert Wiene produced with low budgets. This film was a success across Europe and even down to the U.S.. Success Caligary made many German film industry actors imitate the same style in the production of their films. Expressionism style then becomes a cinematic trend that lasted until a few years.

Not less than the great German director Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau was like Fritz Lang and produced the films follow the style of expressionism. Murnau produce, The Haunted Castle (1921) and influential horror films, Nosferatu (1922) and Faust (1926); Lang even produce large-scale film, a historical epic, Die Nibelungen (1923) and monumental set in the futuristic film, Metropolis (1927) . Other directors like Carl Boese and Paul Wegener produce horror film The Golem (1921) followed by Paul Leni through Waxworks (1923). In seporadik influence of expressionism style even up to France and Russia in the same period, as in the films, L'inhumaine (1924) and The Cloak (1926).

Expressionism style usually seen in the movie-themed fiction, fantasy, and horror. Aesthetically, this style looks at aspects of mise en scene *, ie, background or setting, furnishings, costumes, lighting up to his character that his form is not realistic. Background often described is unusual, irregular shape and surrealistic. A window of a house for example, could be described a circle, triangle or even irregular. Houses, trees, roads, bridges and other unique portrayed as the background resembles a painting. The game is very dominant dark-bright and often use the shadow effect. The main character often use a unique costume, her heavy makeup, and do not move or walk like a human being generally.

Inflation that hit Germany in the early 20s more or less influenced the development of this movement. The cost to produce the Expressionist films become more expensive. Expressionist films such as Faust's great generosity and Metropolis was also fails in the market, so the studios are no longer willing to gamble with the produce similar films. The political situation in Germany is no longer conducive also lead to the perpetrators of German industry largely migrated to Europe and America, including Murnau and Lang. Starting in 1927, expressionism movement declared to have ended; Cabinet of Dr. Caligary (1919) was the first film and the Metropolis (1927) was the last movie. Although this movement was formally has ended but the influence of expressionism is never lost until now.