JOHN's REVIEW FILM MUSEUM.

JOHN REVIEW FILM MUSEUM Berlin

Another gem that Julie found through her intense research.

She said that the entry was amazing and disorientating and she was unhappy that we couldn't take photos. Below are some photos that might give you some idea.

The first photo is from a German film made in the twenties called Metropolis. it is what we would now call a Sci Fi movie about the vision of the city of the future. 

The second photo shows that this style of film called German Expressionism relied heavily on mirrors, light and dark, and weird angles to distort and disorientate to build effect. This is exactly what entering the museum was like. The entry was not on the ground level, so once you pass through the door you feel you are walking along these highways, miles above the ground. the use of mirrors which reflect your image from one mirror to another only hightens the effect, which in turn is hightened by having the reflecting mirrors on different floors and levels, at different angles. Sounds complicated? It is, but the effect is amazing. Anyway, about the museum.

The museum traces the story of the development of German film. Sometimes you look at a conventional display. Sometimes, you interact with an exhibit. Sometimes, you can sit in a little cinema which is a replica of one in the twenties and watch the old silent movies with the jangling piano. Because it is a museum  based on seeing things, but no photos were allowed, i have had to borrow photos from the Berlin Museum, and the internet.

The biggest influence German cinema had on movies was the German Expressionist from the 1910s to the 1920s. They were important because they used the effects outlined above to create effects and illusion. Some people believe that they created  Sci Fi and Horror movies. Here are some photos from the movies of that school and era.

They were also important because they influenced the work of other film makers.. For example here is a shot from an early Alfred Hitchcock movie called The Lodger, made in the 20s which used a lot of the Expressionists devices to build mood and fear.

Of course the Nazis were quick to realise how film could be used for propaganda purposes. Remember there was no T.V. in those days. The atractive lady below is Leni Reifenstahl. She like many others fell under the Nazi spell, and went along with what they were trying to do. Below is a shot from a film called Olympia which showed the Nazi ideal of the pure blood Ayrian master race.   ... perfect in every way. When you look at a photo of the Nazi high command compared to the ideal, none of them come close to measuring up, and you wander how the hell did they hope to get away with it!!

The  museum goes up to the present day and has a little bit on one of my favourite movies which was made under near impossible physical conditions, along the Amazon River, which in turn was made even more impossible by the Director and lead actor hating each others guts!  However, most critics agree that if these two had really got along, it would have been a really terrible film!

So if you are ever in Berlin, give the place a visit. Just walking through the entry door is worth the money!