Berlinale Bloggers 2020
Taking a classic to another level

For the film’s 100th anniversary, Berlinale and the Deutsche Kinemathek step into The Cabinet of Dr Caligari in a unique way.

By Sarah Ward

A century ago, German audiences first discovered the wonders of Robert Wiene’s expressionist masterpiece The Cabinet of Dr Caligari — the movie that would launch an entire filmmaking movement and forever change German cinema, horror cinema and just cinema in general. Soon, fans weren’t just watching the tale of the titular doctor, his mysterious somnambulist and the murders following their every move on the big screen, however. Thanks to composer Otto Weber, they were also taking to the dance floor thanks to the Caligari foxtrot.

That’s just one of the intriguing tidbits covered in the Berlinale and Deutsche Kinemathek's current 100-year celebration of the movie. The latter, Berlin’s resident film history museum, already pays tribute to The Cabinet of Dr Caligari in its permanent exhibition - covering the breadth of German cinema from its silent beginnings to recent triumphs such as Toni Erdmann, it’d be remiss not to - but until mid-April, it’s honouring the feature in a significant way. Alas, visitors can’t hear the Caligari foxtrot or dance to it themselves, but they can marvel at the characteristically striking artwork that accompanied it.

A treasure trove of memorabilia

Film-focused exhibitions that hone in on one specific movie, genre or filmmaker can threaten to merely preach to the converted, primarily catering to existing fans that already know and adore the showcase’s subject. With a film such as The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, that both is and isn’t the case. The movie’s legacy is significant and well-established, as is its cult following. But even for the uninitiated, it’d be impossible to wander into the Berlinale and Deutsche Kinemathek’s tribute and leave without an appreciation for its artistry, importance and influence. Some of the quirky memorabilia from the Caligari exhibition in the Deutsche Kinemathek | © Sarah Ward A plethora of memorabilia steps through the movie’s production and impact; along one wall, framed, miniaturised reconstructions of the film’s stunning, geometric-heavy sets prove a glorious sight to behold. In a quaint screening room, a restored version of the feature plays on a loop, allowing all visitors to soak in its delights from start to finish. And if The Cabinet of Dr Caligari’s resonance in popular culture over the past 100 years wasn’t already apparent, a photo tribute highlights the shadow it has cast over the likes of The Cure’s Robert Smith, Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands and even Joaquin Phoenix’s recent Oscar-winning performance as the Joker — all placed alongside a life-sized recreation of the sleepy Cesare (Conrad Veidt) in Caligari’s (Werner Krauss) cabinet.

The virtual cabinet

Sat in the middle of the small but insightful exhibition, one inclusion offers The Cabinet of Dr Caligari’s fans a truly unique experience. It’s impossible to miss — and, as the centrepiece of the Berlinale and Deutsche Kinemathek’s showcase, it’s worth waiting in the inevitable line, strapping on a virtual reality headset and enjoying for oneself. Cesare’s Dream takes participants into The Cabinet of Dr Caligari’s world, allowing viewers to stroll around the film’s inimitable decor. As each user navigates the VR experience, the sights they’re seeing are shown on a screen for everyone else to watch.

Created by Goethe Institut Warsaw and UFA X, Cesare’s Dream is the closest cinephiles will ever get to achieving what has always been a pure fantasy — walking in Caligari and Cesare’s footsteps, and to immersing themselves in the nightmarish realm they inhabit. For a film that’s already dreamlike in its look and feel, virtual reality fits perfectly, adding another surreal layer to a movie that has earned the same description for 100 years.