The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari Review

The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari was released in Germany on the 26th of February 1920 at a time when
the country was suffering the political, social and economic fallout
from being defeated in the first world war. The film appears to
demonstrate its unsettling and otherworldly nature of its world
through the abstract, twisted yet
characteristic style of German
Expressionism. The movement
originated in the 1910s but grew in
popularity soon after world war
one and in the following decade as
a response to the questionable
authority of government. The style
created a sense of eschewed
reality and appears to do so in the
film with many of the sets
Fig 1
presented with low-key lighting, crooked and
twisted forms that suggest a nefarious and
dangerous environment and a subjective, ambiguous reality. Film
critic Robert Ebert has stated that the film “is said to be the first example in cinema of German
Expressionism, a visual style in which not only the characters but the world itself is out of joint” (Ebert,
2009). Evidence of this can be found not only in the films unique art
style but also its twist ending in which Franzis (the protagonist) is locked
up in the asylum while says he isn’t crazy but the others ignore him,
certain that he is mad. This could possibly suggest that the world and/or
society is inane rather than Franzis. Upon further investigation the
themes of authority can also be found in the films ending where he
appears to be unjustly accused and imprisoned by those in power. Jeff
Saporito noted how the film and conversely German Expressionism has
been “deeply rooted in those concepts and explores the nature of
authority as a vicious and domineering force” (Saporito, 2015). He also
notes the ambiguous reality of the film as he points out how we see the
Fig 2 film from mainly the perspective of Franzis and
the distorted may imply his mental instability.
It is possible that the film utilizes lighting to suggest the
troubled thoughts and anxieties or certain features of the
characters as during certain close-up shots the area around
them darkens; it creates an uncomfortable sense of
claustrophobia though these shots are few. An article on
interior makes note of the lighting stating “The surrounding
space of a subject’s face in close-up is often darkened. This
is seen with Cesare’s introduction – his gruesome appearance is emphasized Fig 3
because the frame is made up of just his face” (Interior, 2015).

Bibliography
Ebert, R. (2009, june 3). THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI. Retrieved from Roger Ebert.com:
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari-1920
Interior. (2015, August 13). The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari. Retrieved from Interiros:
https://www.intjournal.com/0813/the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari/

Saporito, J. (2015, october 30). How does “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” utilize point of view and
perception of reality? Retrieved from Screenprism :
http://screenprism.com/insights/article/how-are-point-of-view-and-perception-of-reality-in-
the-cabinet-of-dr.-calig

Fig 1. Image of Film set (First)

http://beatroute.ca/2016/11/05/cabinet-dr-caligari-foreshadows-dark-era/

5th November 2016

Fig 2. Image of Films Ending (Second)

https://silentology.wordpress.com/2014/10/09/thoughts-on-the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari-1920/

October 9th 2014

Fig 3. Cesare Close-up

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04fcb4q

31st August 2014