I'm a silent film lover, so i came across this movie and was curious about it. What is it about? is the sets and visuals amazing like cabinet of dr. caligari, is it creepy, what's the story? i just wanted to know about it. thanks.
shareI haven't seen this myself (considering it's ranking here I really need to remedy this), but FAUST is a classic story (the original) about a man's lust for knowledge and power resulting in a pact w/ with the devil. Mernau may have taken dramatic creative liscence w/ his vision, but I doubt it veers too much from the core story.
"When I sin, I sin real good;
when I sin, I sin FOR SURE."
The Misfits
He needed to save people dieing from the plague. There's no reason to ante it up and say he lusts for knowlldge and "POWER".
"Keep your fingers clear of his mouth, he's a nibbler."- Dr. Byron Orpheus,(Trail of the Monarch)
it was his desire to help people which drove him to make a pact with the devil, but it was the power that the devil gave him which corrupted and led him to want more power, more selfish desires.
shareLike Caligari, Faust has some expressionistic sets and aims for a hightened emotional impact, but surprisingly enough (and characteristicly for Murnau) there are a lot of scenes shot in natural environments. Anyway, enjoy this movie and expect some beautiful performances and a dark atmosphere, this movie is enjoyed better enjoyed with the curtains closed and the lights out.
shareThe lust for knowledge is from Goethe's novels, while curing the plague is only in the film.
shareEssentially, Faust is a Promethian (although nowadays 'Faustian' has become a synonym for this, which makes my argument seem a little tautological) tale with a classic Catholic/Lutheran guilt complex - In seeking to gain knowledge and dominion, Faust loses himself and those he loves in a pact with a demon. The film's redemptive devices in the final reel, however, do not justify the eariler glee it takes in the devil and all His works, and therefore it shouldnt be read as a peice of moral propaganda. I highly recommend this film for both its early, astounding effects and its superb use of atmosphere.
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