Faust

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Faust

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Faust

Camilla Horn, Emil Jannings, Eric Barclay, Frida Richard, Gösta Ekman Sr.

Faust sells his soul to Mephistopheles, who eventually returns to collect it.

Id: 10897832

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Faust Recent Reviews
  • Sleaze
    November 20, 2008
    Sleaze
    A prime example of that old chestnut "they don't make them like they used to". Pretty much flawless on every level and the type of film they should force modern directors to watch before letting them near their multi-million dollar budgets. Highly recomended
  • Stinger839
    February 12, 2008
    Stinger839
    For people who can still appreciate something made in the prior century (and those numbers are dwindling), Murnau's vision of "Faust" begins with what was at the time a revolutionary visual, and still today is a provacative and effective image. There are any many variations on Fa...( read more)ust, and I like the plot details of this one the best. The Faust and Mephistopheles are well acted; I particularly like the facial expressions of this Faust.
  • pier007
    August 18, 2007
    pier007
    F.W Murnau's crafty direction and Emil Jenning's disturbing charm gives us a plunge into men's most dark ambition, sin and redemption.
  • mustardnoize
    July 29, 2007
    mustardnoize
    Unbelievably great visual style. The opening scene is one of the best in cinema.
  • ElCochran90
    December 22, 2009
    ElCochran90
    FAUST - EINE DEUTSCHE VOLKSSAGE (1926)


    Director: F.W. Murnau
    Country: Germany
    Genre: Fantasy / Horror
    Length: 116 minutes

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    F.W. Murnau is officially one of the greatest filmmakers of all time and is one of the directors that majestically created and popularized the horror genre in German filmmaking just after the films Des Student von Prag (1913), Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (1919) and Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922) were created, giving birth to the beautiful and extraordinarily artistic German Expressionism. Murnau directed this astonishingly unique feast to the senses just after he had incredible cinematographic success with one of the greatest dramas ever made: Der Letzte Mann (1924). However, not even the artistry and supernatural mastery that German auteurs had implemented through the films by that time prepared the early cinematic audiences for such religiously apocalyptic manifesto. Few magnum opuses have established a difference in landmark filmmaking and, undoubtedly, Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage still stands out not only because of its revolutionary special effects and its controversial subject matter, but because of its parallelism with the ambitions of a modern society. With an impeccable style, a predominant gloominess and an unparalleled direction, it is one of the best films ever made and, objectively speaking, one of the most important.

    This supernatural story of giant proportions tells the remarkable and divine story of the war held between God and Satan for ruling over Earth. Both decide to wager on the soul of an alchemist named Faust. After Faust burns his books out of desperation and disappointment for being unable to stop death during a plague, Satan sends the clever Mephisto to tempt Faust in many ways, including an insight into treating the plague and offering him 24 hours of youth. However, Mephisto intelligently times this one-day period while he embraces the beautiful Duchess of Parma. Finally, Faust decides to trade his soul for youth and, later on, falls in love with the gorgeous and innocent Gretchen. Nonetheless, when he starts to face the consequences of his equivocate decision through a terrible series of events, he is subject to emotional suffering, bringing dishonor to her new lover. Who won the wager? Will Satan rule over Earth?

    Many unbelievable and surprising events take place throughout, but the most outstanding aspects of the film are its visual style and its direction. Contrary to the popular opinion and expectations, a silent horror film adopts for the first time an audacious approach towards religion. The physical forms of God and Satan are actually displayed during the first 10 minutes of the film, leaving me speechless. Naturally, that kind of decision may seem inappropriate for some viewers, but in the end, it must be directly interpreted as a metaphorical definitive showdown between good and evil. Thanks to the vision of genius F.W. Murnau, this scope reaches unparalleled measures of baroque artistry and a breathtaking cinematography. Moreover, every single special effect achieved to create a particularly scary imagery of a divine and superior-to-man nature and terrifying sequences heavy in visual elements, which is certainly a spectacular concept for the time and truthfully lives up to the genre of horror.

    The performances were theatrically impressive, and who else could have brilliantly portray the character of Mephisto if not Emil Jannings, one of the most respected and recognized actors in classic silent cinema? The character of Faust is the living representation of the struggle that even non-religious people have to face everyday. Life in the actuality consists of constant decisions, most of them involving a particular moral degree. He also represents what the heart desires, like physical youth in a failed and unsuccessful old alchemist, and love, and how the mind can rule over our emotions in a cruel way. It is true that emotions should not govern over reason, but our conscience constantly tries to act as a benign mediator according to some decisions made by our mind, and that is where ethics come to play. All of these elements make of Faust a very complete and interesting character. The pace of the film is fantastically accurate and the film intrinsically keeps the viewer guessing constantly what will be the conclusion of the film, especially considering the take of Murnau towards the human condition in his past projects. Can Good really triumph over Evil, or will obtaining redemption be an impossible task to achieve already because of an erroneous and ultimately catastrophic decision by the primitively ambitious protagonist?

    Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage is a brilliant essay on faith and religion. Regardless of the particular religious beliefs one may have regarding the existence and influence of God and Satan on Earth and the existence of Heaven and Hell, this silent masterpiece has the capacity of blowing worldwide audiences away in several ways, since the symbolic representation of good and evil does not loses its nature. Topics like temptation, love, life and death are also treated, assuming the roles of machinists of extremities and superficial exaggerations. From the longing of youth in order to be corresponded with love to earthly blessings and riches, the original morality of man and his intentions are immediately questioned. Materialism is attacked and the futile goals and life objectives a person has are diminished in importance. However, more than representing the balance that exists in the cycle of life, the main purpose of the film (despite it not being emphasized) is the true authenticity behind our decisions and to perform an analytical reflection of the true motivations behind them.

    Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage has definitely stood the test of time and keeps leaving several critics of several generations astonished and excited. F.W. Murnau's second best feature film is an attack to the senses and the essence of the spirit, perhaps even modifying skeptical perspectives held by several people. With several effective musical scores abounding in different versions of the film and an exquisite camerawork, this is a filmmaking successful achievement in both cinematographic and technical aspects. A gem that must be seen before dying (in case we are not offered the opportunity to see it in the afterlife) and a giant German treasure, Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage is a visual achievement of glorious proportions and a giant ambition; it is a symbolic spectacle to watch, not mentioning a masterpiece in its genre. Because of its groundbreaking greatness, it is an ultimate experience that demands to be seen in a big screen with a live orchestra. It is an earthly experience out of this world. Goethe must have been proud.

    100/100
  • dirbyade
    September 9, 2009
    dirbyade
    FAUST Big Screen Presentation!!!

    FAUST with a LIVE SCORE performed by Cabeza de Vaca Arcestra.

    Art Theatre of Long Beach
    2025 EAST 4TH STREET ~ LONG BEACH, CA 90804 ~ 562.438.5435

    FRIDAY 9/11/09 MIDNIGHT
  • CHILIcheeseDONUTSwithTUNAonTOP
    September 5, 2009
    CHILIcheeseDONUTSwithTUNAonTOP
    This classic tale tells of an alchemist named Faust who conjures Satan to give him power to help his village. Then it gets out of hand when Satan screws him over (who'd uh thunk it?). In terms of the filming techniques this is similar to Golem in some respects, both should be vie...( read more)wed for an interesting comparison.
  • DoctorXQuinzel
    June 27, 2009
    DoctorXQuinzel
    Interesting, a neat watch
  • ahhh1989
    May 21, 2009
    ahhh1989
    F.W. Murnau's greatest film, by far.
  • sharonmaltby1
    April 2, 2009
    sharonmaltby1
    Beautiful imagery. Murnau at his best. Loved the music too! Glad I've got it on DVD!
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