A screening of "The Cabinet of Dr Caligari" (1920) this evening at Phoenix Square Digital Film and Media Centre.
The Cabinet of Dr Caligari is one of the earliest, most influential and most artistically acclaimed German Expressionist films. The film tells the story of the deranged Dr. Caligari and his faithful sleepwalking Cesare, and their connection to a string of murders. Critics worldwide have praised the film for its expressionist style, complete with wild, distorted set design including crooked buildings and twisted landscapes. The film also boasts one of the first attempts at a twist ending, something quite new and shocking for its time. This is a genuinely creepy film which delves deep into the mysteries of the abnormal mind ... an uncomfortable journey to say the least. Everyone is suspect and, in the end, we must ask ourselves: "who is really the mad one here?" Subtle and ingenious, we see the world the way an insane person might see it; warped and confused, a nightmarish terrain where nothing makes sense and balance is not to be found. The impact of this film is still being felt and seen today, and for good reason. Caligari has been cited as an influence on film noir, one of the earliest horror films, and a model for directors for many decades. It is a shocking, disturbing masterpiece.
This 90th anniversary celebration has seen a series of screenings at selected venues, beginning 9 Feb in Lincoln, then visiting Warwick, Derby, Stamford, Cardiff, Bradford, Saltburn, Norwich, winding up here in Leicester tonight. The screenings are accompanied by live performance of a new, original (partly improvised) score by Cipher (a duo comprising Theo Travis and Steve Sturt), incorporating hypnotic alto flute, haunting soprano saxophone, dark soundscapes, pulsing beats, deep bass and rich textural landscapes. Cipher have a history of writing scores for sinister films, including Alfred Hitchcock's "The Lodger" and "Blackmail", FW Murnau's "The Last Laugh", and GW Pabst's "Pandora's Box" in their repertoire. Travis explains: "We tend to pick films that are dark to write new music for. It's about capturing the mood of the film with a mixture of improvisation and composition. The Cabinet of Dr Caligari is one of the most moody and dramatic films ever made, one that continues to exert a huge influence on film-makers".
At the end of the performance and screening, I nip down the front to congratulate the musicians. I saw Travis playing sax and flute with Gong in Oxford last November, which was my 50th birthday treat. I didn't know he'd be playing here this evening, so that's a bonus for me. He tells me that Sturt is also with Gong now, playing bass. Oh, I love this even more now - getting to chat with two members of Gong, without expecting it!
Find out more about The Cabinet of Dr Caligari:
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