The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari - Scene Analysis

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In this essay I will be exploring aspects of mise en scène (specifically in the area of sets and figures) contained within one sequence from The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari (Robert Wiene, 1919). The sequence is time coded from 0:40:00 to 0:45:00, as the character of Cesare approaches the sleeping Jane, culminating in her abduction. Along with Nosferatu (F.W. Murnau, 1922), The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari is one of the most notable examples of German Expressionist cinema. The film contains an incredibly rich mixture of avant-garde aesthetics, emphasised by the films sparse narrative construction and shot almost entirely in mid to long shots, with little in the way of editing or camera movements to infringe upon the framing of the grandiose visuals. The majority of the impact of those visuals is derived from the magnificently stylised sets, designed to outwardly express the inner psyche of the protagonists (as was common practice in all forms of Expressionist art, a movement that sought to ‘visualise’ emotions). Here the sets consist majorly of two-dimensional backdrops with both scenery and lighting painted directly onto them. Even outdoor scenes were shot entirely on a sound-stage with painted landscapes and buildings. Whether a painted backdrop or a more malleable prop though, all of Dr. Caligari’s aesthetics share the same otherworldly values. Created with an eye for impossible architectural shapes, the world of Dr. Caligari is filled with exaggerated angles and jagged enclosed perspectives, which push a feeling of constant threat and unsettling dissonance upon the audience. Interestingly, much of the scene I will be looking at takes place within the bedroom of Jane. A far more rounded and less exaggerated set than any other in the film, a choice of design which I believe helps to convey the normality and comfort a person finds within territory as familiar
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