In association with the Goethe-Institut, the New Zealand Film Archive in Wellington is playing host to a collection of classic German cinema from October 1 – 5. Having showcased contemporary filmmakers over the past two years, the German Film Festival shifts its focus to cinema legend Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, who broke motion picture grounds with his expressionist silent films of the early 20th Century.
Standard tickets are $6 / $8
Opening night tickets are $15
For more information, visit www.filmarchive.org.nz
Faust: A German Folk Legend (1926)
Opening Night | Tuesday October 1 | 7:00pm (reception at 6:00pm)
Murnau’s film starring the highly praised Emil Jannings as Mephisto draws on Goethe’s classic version and combines these parts brilliantly with older traditions of the legendary tale of Faust: Faust is willing to use evil forces to perform good deeds. However, his good intentions trigger a disastrous dwindling spiral of deceit, infidelity, lust, gluttony, murder and suicide.
The Last Laugh (1924)
Wednesday October 2 | 7:00pm
Considered by some the best movie ever made, Murnau uses innovative filming techniques to explore the traditional subjects of ageing and the importance of status and appearance: The porter of the grand hotel is demoted to a simple restroom attendant. The poor old man seems doomed to spend his remaining years with cleaning, until a wealthy young man dies in his restroom one day.
Phantom (1922)
Thursday October 3 | 7:00pm
Murnau creates an uncanny feeling through his use of light and filming techniques: The plain and responsible town chronicler Lubota is obsessed with his unrequited love for Veronika. After following her around like a phantom, he meets Melitta, Veronika’s double and is exploited by her.
Tabu (1931)
Friday October 4 | 7:00pm
Murnau’s first fully self funded movie (co-written by Robert Flaherty) should become his last. The docufiction is set in the South Pacific and tells the story of an unhappy love affair.
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)
Saturday October 5 | 4:30pm
The unauthorized adaption of Bram Stoker’s Dracula still receives overwhelmingly positive reviews and is an example of an early cult film that gets your hackles up.
Nosferatu: Phantom of the Night (1978)
Saturday October 5 | 7:00pm
Werner Herzog’s remake of the 1920s classic shows the brilliantly bone-chilling performance of Klaus Kinski as Count Dracula.
