“The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” is a silent German expressionist film, directed by Robert Wiene and released in 1920. The film tells the story of a young man named Francis who recounts his experience with a sinister hypnotist named Dr. Caligari.
In the film, Francis and his friend Alan visit a fair where Dr. Caligari is exhibiting his somnambulist, Cesare, who has been asleep for twenty-three years. Caligari claims that Cesare can predict the future, and when Alan asks how long he has to live, Cesare predicts that he will be dead by dawn.
Later that night, Alan is found dead, and Francis becomes obsessed with finding the murderer. He suspects that Caligari and Cesare are responsible and starts investigating them. His investigations lead him to discover that Caligari is actually the director of a mental institution and that Cesare is one of his patients.
Francis eventually discovers that Caligari has been using Cesare to commit a series of murders in the town. He confronts Caligari, who reveals that he is insane and that he has been using Cesare as a tool to carry out his evil deeds. In the end, the police catch Caligari and Cesare dies.
The film is known for its use of expressionist visuals, such as distorted and stylized sets, and the use of lighting to create mood and atmosphere. It is considered a classic of German expressionist cinema and a landmark in the history of horror films.
Directors:
Robert Wiene
Writer:
Carl Mayer, Hans Janowitz
Stars:
Werner Krauss, Conrad Veidt, Friedrich Feher
