April 14th Log

SUNRISE
1927, F.W. Murnau, United States
Repeat Viewing, DVD

"This song of the Man and his Wife is of no place and every place; you might hear it anywhere, at any time." And so begins one of the very greatest artistic achievements in film. What an amazing film this is! Simply in terms of artistic vision, Sunrise was decades ahead of it's time. As was it filmmaker, F.W. Murnau, who with such masterpieces created a cinematic language for the art form to expand upon. Sunrise is so impressive and so timeless it's mesmerizing. Ultimately, it's a film of images more so then plot. What results is a film that connects with both the characters and viewers subconscious. The performances are outstanding by the cast in capturing the emotions and feelings of Murnau's imagery. Their is not a single flaw, as each and every moment stands as pure brilliance (particularly the scene in which the married couple reunite their love and dream as they walk in each others arms through the crowed streets, oblivious to the city's congested surroundings). Using a free flowing camera, superimposed images, and very little title cards, Sunrise has a tone and style rarely seen in silent films. It's a multi-layered drama / tragedy / love story of psychological human emotion and behavior. While the tone and atmosphere is one of darkness, Sunrise is a film of warmth, hope, compassion, and love. The title can be viewed as a metaphor for the film: Even through the dreariest of storms the sun will always rise eventually. Such a lovely and hopeful film. Sunrise speaks of universal themes and timeless themes of love and the loyalty, betrayal, and redemption within love. But above all, this is a film of poetry and of images and dreams of the mind. Watching Sunrise is a magical, poetic and enriching cinema experience that exists as one of the art forms legendary achievements. I deeply love this film, and easily consider it among the greatest ever made!