German Film Festival 2013: Focus Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau

German Film Festival 2013: Focus Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau

1 – 5 October at the New Zealand Film Archive Wellington

The Goethe-Institut have dug deep into the catalogue of films by silent film legend Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau for the 2013 edition of our FOCUS Festival.

Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau was one of the most important film directors in the silent era of the 1920s. His films still have great influence on contemporary filmmakers. As Wim Wenders once said of the innovative director, “Murnau was light years ahead of his time.”

If you should only have time for two films, we strongly recommend you experience the revolutionary unchained camera technique of the tragicomedy The Last Laugh and please don’t miss the Nosferatu double bill fancy dress night – we guarantee a blood-curdling experience. Come along dressed in ghoulish theme for a chance to win free entry to the evening’s films and spot prizes. A 4:30pm screening of Werner Herzog’s 1978 remake will precede the 7pm screening of the Murnau original. During the break between the two versions of Nosferatu Wellington Institute of Technology Makeup Artistry tutor Dany S. Pike and students will give a phantasmagorical display of vampire prosthetics.

In collaboration with the New Zealand Film Archive, the Goethe-Institut is delighted to be able to bring these and other films by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau to the big screen for a Wellington audience.

The German Film Festival runs October 1-5 and is held at The New Zealand Film Archive, 84 Taranaki St, Wellington.

Tickets (except for opening night): $8 / $6.

There will be a reception on opening night, Tuesday October 1, at 6pm, followed by a screening of Faust: A German Folk Legend (opening night tickets: $15).

For further information visit www.goethe.de/nz

Please find further information about F.W. Murnau and the films in the festival programme.

Short Summary of Films

Faust: A German Folk Legend
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
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
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
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
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; directed by Werner Herzog)
Werner Herzog’s remake of the 1920s classic shows the brilliantly bone-chilling performance of Klaus Kinski as Count Dracula.

ENDS

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