The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Research

 The German film “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” by Robert Wiene is considered one of the best films of expressionism. His images show a film outside of what was considered normal for the time. (Portilla, 2012) 

We are facing a silent film that is an icon in the history of German cinema. It presents a set of fantastic and macabre images. We can think that in 1920 when the film premiered it might not be well accepted, but it was a success, both for the public and for the critics. It presents an innovative narrative and mixes two genres: mystery and terror. (Hubbert, 2005) 

The film begins with Francis sharing stories with an elderly companion and Jane, whom Francis and Alan want to marry. When they visit the German village Holstenwall they find Caligari and his companion Cesare, a silent sleepwalker. Cesare is hypnotically controlled by Caligari, who receives and executes his orders and is also given the ability to predict the future. A series of murders in Holstenwall leads some to believe that Caligari and Cesare are responsible. This is because Cesare "guessed" Alan's death when he questioned him. (Portilla, 2012) 

In my view, more than the story that is present in this film, this film has unusual scenarios, mixing scenarios painted with distorted angles. The actors' clothes and makeup are exaggerated and make a play of shadows and light. (Portilla, 2012) 

I researched some images from this film that can inspire me for the animation I want to do. I'm going to play with black and white as the background image and try to make a geometric setting to understand the visual effect that I get by incorporating my characters. 

Ebert (2009) tells us that in this film we no longer have a camera recording reality, but a set of distortions with two-dimensional scenarios. This style is based on expressionism due to extreme distortions. In the animation I'm going to do, I want to capture the inner tensions of the characters, their anguish. The deformation proper to expressionism will try to show it through the scenarios, through some distorted and somber forms that try to convey the anguish of the characters. (Victor, 2020)

Image from https://www.archdaily.com/300945/films-architecture-the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari 

Image from https://www.archdaily.com/300945/films-architecture-the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari

Image from https://www.archdaily.com/300945/films-architecture-the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari 

Image from https://www.archdaily.com/300945/films-architecture-the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari 

I made a drawing based on the work above and that I will be using in my animation:

References:

Ebert, Rooger (2009) A world slanted at sharp angles [online] available from: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari movie review (1920) | Roger Ebert (accessed 26th January 2021)

Hubbert, Julie (2005) Modernism at the Movies: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and a Film Score Revisited [online] available from: MQ88(1).book(gdi002.fm) (silverchair.com) (accessed 23th January 2021)

Hugo, Victor (2020) Expressionismo – O que, contexto histórico, origem e características [online] available from: Expressionismo - O que, contexto histórico, origem e características (r7.com)  (accessed 17th Oct 2021)

Portilla, Daniel (2012) Films & Architecture: "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari“  [online] available from: Films & Architecture: "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" | ArchDaily (accessed 23th January 2021)