Thoughts on “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”
A German Silent movie, released in 1920’s, directed by
Robert Wiene, story and screenplay by Hans Janowitz and
Carl Mayer. It’s considered to one of the first and finest
example of the German Expressionism, which have casted
its shadow in times on movies in years to come.
German Expressionism reflects the unsettled emotional
state of a character by way of pure cinematic technique.
Those techniques are employed not just in an unrealistic,
but anti-realistic manner as a means of more accurately
portraying their unstable footing in an incomprehensible
world.
The use of grey landscape, distorted set-geometry,
chiaroscuro lighting, bizarre set design and obvious
artificiality of the environment all reflect the director
vision of expressionism in the movie and it also
contribute to the story-within-a-story narrative to
enhance the overriding theme of The Cabinet of Dr
Caligari: the expressive nature of the perception of
reality. Spatial relationships within the curiously sunless
cityscape inhabited by buildings constructed at angles
defying logic as well physics create the context within the
story that appears be real but turns out to be, in fact,
merely the expression of a madman’s perception of his
own reality.
The movie question reality and perception by placing the
same character in different circumstance in opposite
timeline. The non linear narrative fails the audience to
understand the reality and raises question in the viewers
mind, as to what you see and what you think. Every
aspect of the film, from its storyline to its plot twist to its
scenic design, is designed for the specific purpose of
contravening perceptions. Ultimately, nothing can be
taken for granted and everything must ultimately be
accepted as only one possible subjective expression of
what may be perceived as real.
Poster Design
I wanted to create a poster inspired from the
events from the movie, for the same I have
selected the scene when Alan goes to ask Cesare as
to when he will die.
I have used the dialogue and the event that
followed or event that marked the truth of the
dialogue.
Initial Concept
Here are some exploration of the concept. The main idea of this was to represent that era/ element/ event or character.
Final Poster Design
The poster is made to represent the 1920 era keeping
the originality of colour(black and white, with tones of grey). The gradient plays an important role by holding the viewers focus and highlight the title.
The element used in the poster are as follows:
- Text element: the writings around the knives is the dialogue between Mr. Alan and the Cesare, a sleepwalking somnambulist at the carnival.
The typeface is kept as sketchy and floating to indicate a conversation and bold to put more effect, while viewer reading it.
- Dagger With blood: It’s the tool/ weapon used by Cesare, a sleepwalking somnambulist, to kill his victim/ prey. The blood on the dagger is to create an impression of murder or a weapon used in act.
- Title:
Colour: The colour of title in red equate to danger, thriller and murder.
Typography : typography for film title is inspired from Avenir and Bauhaus typeface.
