Destiny (Der müde Tod)

When a woman's fiancé disappears, Death gives her three chances to save him from his fate.

Expressionism was defined as a general tendency in art, literature, theater, and music, which developed in the first twenty years of the twentieth century, mainly in Germany.

The defeat of Germany in the First World War and the subsequent economic crisis had a special impact on the enforcement of German expressionism, giving a dark and disturbing tone. Artists extracted macabre fantasy, horror and cruelty from the traditions of German dark romanticism, where the heroes, harassed by extreme, violent feelings, were capable of unpredictable, impulsive deeds. The classic expressionist film was characterized by painted decorations, sharp-edged architecture, distorted perspectives, and refined light. Consciously artificial and deformed surroundings reflected the complicated states of the psyche of the heroes, among whom were mentally ill, deviants, somnambulists, and monsters. The pessimistic moods prevailing in German society and the fears of demonic individuals who can dominate, exploit and enslave, became especially relevant during the heyday of nationalistic movements in the 1930’s.

Cast:
Lil Dagover (Young Woman)
Walter Janssen (Young Man)
Bernhard Goetzke (Death)
Hans Sternberg (Mayor)

Director: Fritz Lang
Runtime: 105 min
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Thriller
Language: Silent Film
Subtitles: English
Production Year: 1921