German expressionism explode in Berlin during the 1920’s. In the late 1910’s, during the First World War, german government banned international films so the people became more interested in films made in their own country and the production increased. And so did the international audience after the war and german cinema became an important part of the international film industry and the expressionism movement began to influence other directors abroad such as Alfred Hitchcock. Characterized by the lack of big budgets, black and white, unrealistic sets with inconsistent proportions and geometric figures. Human insanity and dark emotions predominate in the plots. It leaded to film noir and horror cinema.
Some of the iconic first films of the movement: The Student of Prague (1913), The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920), Nosferatu (1922), Phantom (1922), Schatten (1923).
(Source: lacinemateca)
