Γερμανία/Germany, 1920, μ/α/b&w (tinted) 

Σκην./Dir.: Robert Wiene | Σεν./Scr.: Carl Mayer, Hans Janowitz | Φωτ./Cin.: Willy Hameister | Μουσ./Mus.: Alfredo Antonini, Giuseppe Becce (premiere), Michael Klubertanz (1989 Original Score), Richard Marriott(1987), Lothar Prox(1985), Rainer Viertelboeck(1993), Timothy Broc(1996) | Ηθ./Cast: Werner Krauss, Conrad Veidt, Friedrich Fehér, Lil Dagover, Hans Heinz v. Twardowski, Rudolph Lettinger | Παρ./Prod.: Decla-Bioscop AG | Διάρκεια/Dur.: 77'

It  is  the  annual  fair.  Francis  and  his  friend  Alan  visit  The  Cabinet  of Dr. Caligari, an exhibit where the mysterious doctor shows off the  somnambulist  Cesare.  He  awakens  him  for  some  moments  from  his  death-like  sleep  in  order  to  predict  the  future.  When  Alan asks Cesare about his future, Cesare answers that he will die before dawn. The following morning Alan is found dead. A series of mysterious murders take place and as Francis suspects that Dr. Caligari is behind them, he starts spying on him.

The  film  is  considered  the  quintessential  work  of  German  Expressionist  cinema and a landmark in the history of cinema. Made before «horror» was a  designated  genre,  this  is  sometimes  cited  as  the  first  true  horror  film.  Producer Erich Pommer wanted to have Fritz Lang as the film’s director and although Lang was interested, he then decided to work on another film.

On  the  occasion  of  the  Centenary  of  the  film’s  world  premiere  we  are  screening the restored copy of the film with live music by Nicos Platanos and with the tinted colours used at the time.