That is the question posed by this fascinating documentary based on Siegfried Kracauer's seminal 1947 book From Caligari to Hitler in which he examined German films of the Weimar Republic era (1918-1933) and introduced the groundbreaking theory that these films -reflecting the cultural and artistic attitudes of the time - prophetically anticipated the rise of fascism that ultimately led to the darkest period in Germany's history.
Filmmaker Rüdiger Suchsland builds on the book's central ideas with his thoroughly researched filmization punctuated by interviews with notable film historians along with his his own illuminating commentary. The treasure trove of beautifully restored Weimar era film clips from directors including Fritz Lang, F.W. Murnau, G.W. Pabst and Ernst Lubitsch stand out as a major highlight that make this a must-see for all serious film buffs.
So, what does cinema know that we don't? Was the rise of Nazism reflected in the collective cultural history of Weimar cinema as Kracauer argued and Rüdiger illuminates? From Caligari to Hitler takes a detailed and important look into this cultural mirror with compelling results.
By Andrea Passafiume
