From Morn to Midnight (1920)

 Karlheinz Martin's "From Morn to Midnight"


1920 brought an explosion of Expressionism to German films following the massive success of "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." Karlheinz Martin attempted to recreate the magic of that film by creating a work that mirrored its minimalist set pieces. With "From Morn to Midnight," Martin used stylized sets, like those in "Caligari" to demonstrate an avant-garde approach to illustrating an abstracted environment around the character. 

The film is broken down into five acts. These five acts tell the story of a banker who suffers an exestential crisis. He begins to see skeletons in the faces of others, which makes him reflect on his impending death. Furthermore, he grows tired of his wife, daughter, and mother at home. So, he steals money from the bank and decides to spend the rest of the day living frivolously. 

The film attempts to represent the Germany mindset after the war. Faced with the immediacy of death, the German people entered a state of abandonment and frivolity. This picture reflects that frantic suppression. 




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