Video Essay: German Expressionism, Explained

That dark stylish beauty synonymous with directors like Guillermo del Toro and Tim Burton has its roots in Germany during the 1910s, 20s, and 30s. Here, realism is done away with in favor of the distorted and the surreal. Mirrors, large shadows, and optical effects are abundant. Strange worlds are created through a purely subjective eye. This is German Expressionism…
Created for No Film School by Press Play Productions

[@DC-zi6se]

What I see in common is most of the Expressionist films: 1- Exaggerated colors and absurd tonality 2- Use of Shadows 3- Gothic feel 4- Realistic and overly emotional characters I think Tim Burton's Batman and Coppola's Dracula are 2 very popular Expressionist films.

[@kleiler]

yes yes yes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rILLkpeghtqkZ5Y

[@DiogoMaia2]

Last Laugh, Metropolis, Nosferatu, Dr. Caligari and many more are truely masterpieces of this great movement of cinema.

[@AQWMalkoir]

one of my favorite periods of cinema. Great vid.

[@brinhauptmann8133]

Thanks for this. One of my favorite periods in cinema.

[@natashakvlt3467]

As an actress I can say this video is a very good summary of what I've studied. Very good job!

[@jolivas7]

I would watch 10 straight hours of this. This is so good. A+

[@ogier1]

Keep up the good work! Looking forward to the final part of your 2001 videos. Greetings from Munich.

[@Jim-gk4so]

I like to make horror films in German expressionism style. Then my thriller films in film noir type style.

[@YashVardhanFilms]

Do you want editor ?

[@multimediahelp1]

Exactly the same as I was taught at the Academy :). Nice essay

[@shrug_shrugsly]

Gorgeous!!! So well done❤

[@lewiscranston881]

0:50 it's pronounced 'Moonk'.

[@guesswho5122]

Yes, and Fritz Lang's name is pronounced "Lung". B ut otherwise a nice compilation of examples.

[@bleedingmetal]

Lots of info crammed into a very short video. Nicely done.

[@ScribblebytesWorldwide]

Awesome work. I'm loving your videos 👍

[@rajsingharora26]

OMG so have been Enthralled by Dark....am watching Season 2 right now and I keep wondering how is this Show this Good especially Season 1 , what is that the Germans have that is so Unique and then I see this Video by you and that explains so much to me.

[@dudders91]

German Expressionism > French New Wave (to me)

[@DC-zi6se]

German Expressionism>Italian/Spanish Surrealism>French New Wave.

[@kleiler]

ha ha, yes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rILLkpeghtqkZ5Y

[@DarkAngelEU]

French what? New wave is just intellectual bullshit.

[@WinterandNoodle]

Not really, fuck off

[@francois4110]

I don't see how one can compare German expressionism and French New Wave. You're just trying to be a snob. Well done.

[@vasylmalyshka4346]

Although I don't like german expressionism movies much the video is very nice and useful

[@shrug_shrugsly]

Yes! Thank you!!

[@ResistanceQuest]

Solid video. Word up 👍

[@RuniDjurhuus]

“Edvard Munch” is pronounced “Edvard Munk” :)

[@alyasoliman1986]

That was great, thank you!

[@lukechou2046]

Dope explanations. Thanks!

[@mariaalexea4756]

Great work!

[@annettekeith9729]

Mild comments cannot work here, since the narrator and the video are relating a powerful art genre, that so changed film, acting, film scripts, German Expressionism had to develop out of the period that still enrages some, but the very base of the genre of painting/illustration draws so many subjects into discussion. Max Beckman???

[@manbro3260]

Great Style

[@JohnMervinChocolateThunder]

is this the voice of Cinema Tyler I hear?

[@CinemaTyler]

Yes! This is a new series I'm doing with No Film School and Press Play!

[@Nico-ly8dx]

Awesome! Look forward to seeing the next one!

[@timepalace9404]

Dr. Mabuse The Gambler was released in 1922 and not 1927. :)

[@mishtaromaniello8295]

I'm new to this channel, is that CinemaTyler narrating? XD

[@farhonahmed5081]

farhan ahmed was here 10-27-22

[@devinbell4816]

The still at 1:12 is actually from "Diary of a Lost Girl".

[@devinbell4816]

Also "Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler" is 1922, not 27.

[@DominikJuzeHaus]

Kafka is Czech though. Otherwise, thanks so much, really educational

[@Nerdlabor]

Kafka was part of the German minority in Prague. One cannot approach the many minorities and populations in the former Austria-Hungary with today's standards of nationality. Kafka certainly considered himself multi-identitarian. However, he wrote his works in German.

[@drakhshanalvi6607]

Can u tell me about german expressionist influence on today cinema with different references

[@karlkarlos3545]

Eraserhead, The Elephant Man, Brazil, Shape of Water, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, Shutter Island, Matrix, Minority Report ... The List goes on.

[@paolavargaslozada8871]

En español, gracias!

[@Tomzupp]

How do you explain the strange darkness creeping in?

[@drakhshanalvi6607]

Can anyone tell me influence of german expressionist on today cinrma with different references

[@SuperJambaman]

I had no idea that this form of filming had migrated from Europe and has had such an influence on American films, foreign film techniques like how some films had sad endings unlike the American films which more times than not would always have happy endings, even if that meant changing the source material completely.

[@SierraSierraFoxtrot]

You should watch Fritz Lang's American movies: "The Big Heat" and "Fury". Also Hitchcock's "Spellbound".

[@sephfox5518]

ah now eventually you do plan to have dinosaurs, on your dinosaur tour right? hello, hello yes?

[@pulsarstargrave256]

EDWARD [ed VARD] MUNCH [MOONK]

[@jon780249]

Edward Munch! Really?

[@Владислава-р9д]

Ustal, vincent ne sidel w durdome,i k

[@Skeletor611]

“Because of the war, they created this style” - doesn’t make any sense

[@collecting2131]

The prime example for German expressionism today, for me, is the 2002 horror film "FeardotCom". It's generally disliked by people but those visuals can't be denied....