SIFF SCREENING | Bringing Venice Closer Once Again

The “Retrospective of German Film Masters” will feature a total of eight classic films. So far, we have unveiled three works by Volker Schlöndorff and Margarethe von Trotta, as well as three representative films by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Today, we are excited to reveal the final two films: Fritz Lang’s newly restored THE BIG HEAT and Werner Herzog’s classic JEDER FÜR SICH UND GOTT GEGEN ALLE.

With this announcement, the complete lineup for the film festival has been revealed. How many did you guess correctly?

In the early 1920s, German Expressionist cinema astonished the world, and Fritz Lang became one of the most renowned directors on the global stage with his film METROPOLIS, making him a familiar name among Shanghai audiences.

In 2011, the newly restored version of METROPOLIS debuted at Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), generating immense buzz among viewers and leading to sold-out screenings. In 2017, SIFF showcased Lang’s earlier work DER MÜDE TOD; later that year, the Shanghai Film Museum hosted a German Expressionism exhibition featuring many of Lang’s classics, including the two-part DIE NIBELUNGEN, DR. MABUSE, DER SPIELER, METROPOLIS, and M - EINE STADT SUCHT EINEN MÖRDER. In 2019, SIFF highlighted Lang’s underappreciated classic FRAU IM MOND‎ in the “Journey to the Moon” section. This year, METROPOLIS was again screened in the “The Fantasy and Reality of Artificial Intelligence” section. With this, most of Fritz Lang’s works from the first phase of his Expressionist period have already been shown in Shanghai.

As the latest restored version of THE BIG HEAT makes its debut along with its world premiere in the Classics section of the Venice International Film Festival, this event has included the film on its screening list. We hope to introduce audiences to more of Lang’s work beyond Expressionism and highlight his significant contributions to the film noir genre, as well as provide film enthusiasts with a chance to experience “Venice Up Close” for the second time after last year’s screening of the Spanish film master Carlos Saura’s LA CAZA.

Werner Herzog, one of the key figures of the New German Cinema, is also well-known to audiences in Shanghai. In 2016, SALT AND FIRE was selected for the main competition at the SIFF. In 2018, a retrospective of Herzog’s work in Shanghai featured eight representative films, including FITZCARRALDO and AGUIRRE, DER ZORN GOTTES, with the maestro himself making an appearance to interact with audiences. In 2020, Herzog’s FAMILY ROMANCE, LLC. was showcased in the “New from Auteur” section of SIFF. The 2022 “Retrospective of German Film Masters” screened THE WHITE DIAMOND. The previous SIFF included a documentary about Herzog, WERNER HERZOG: RADICAL DREAMER, in the “SIFF Rhapsodies” section. Given this event’s focus on works from the New German Cinema era, Herzog’s JEDER FÜR SICH UND GOTT GEGEN ALLE is being highlighted once again as one of his significant works from that time.

Fritz Lang

Audiences who have seen METROPOLIS (1927) are likely left with a lasting impression of the future envisioned by Fritz Lang nearly a century ago. However, this “visual magician” made contributions to film language that extend far beyond science fiction. His stylized set design, high-contrast lighting, and unbalanced compositions have profoundly influenced later cinematic creations, particularly in advancing the development of film noir. He is not only celebrated as a master of German Expressionist cinema but also regarded as the “father of film noir”.

A brief overview of the master’s life can be summarized in two main phases. From 1921 to 1933, Fritz Lang experienced his first peak creative period. During World War I, he served in the Austrian army, and after multiple injuries, he returned to the thriving German film industry. After writing and directing several of his early works, Lang met his second wife, screenwriter Thea von Harbou, and together they created a series of representative works of German Expressionist cinema, such as DR. MABUSE, DER SPIELER (1922) and METROPOLIS. Originally expected to take over his family’s construction business, Lang skillfully utilized architecture, set design, and composition to convey the inner worlds of his characters and the oppressive nature of their social environments, aligning perfectly with the stylistic characteristics of German Expressionist cinema. With the advent of sound film technology, in his first sound film M - EINE STADT SUCHT EINEN MÖRDER (1931), he conducted rich sound experiments through a collaborative investigation and manhunt for a mysterious serial killer, expanding his exploration of Expressionism from visuals to soundtracks, paving new paths for future film noir creations in Hollywood.

Still from M - EINE STADT SUCHT EINEN MÖRDER

In 1933, Fritz Lang left Germany, first directing his only French film, LILIOM (1934) in Paris, before moving to the United States. From 1936 onward, he produced 22 works in Hollywood over the next two decades, entering his second peak phase for creation. This phase signifies a shift from his earlier German works. Fritz Lang’s visual style in this period became more realistic. FURY (1936) was Lang’s first film directed in Hollywood, addressing the issue of mob justice in early American society. Subsequent films such as YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE (1937), THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW (1944), and SCARLET STREET‎ (1945) solidified his position as a key director in the film noir genre. In 1953, his film THE BIG HEAT, starring Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame, was a tremendous success and marked the pinnacle of Lang’s Hollywood career.

Still from YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE

By the late 1950s, Fritz Lang was invited back to Germany to direct films such as DER TIGER VON ESCHNAPUR‎ (1959) and DAS INDISCHE GRABMAL‎(1959). His last film as a director was DIE 1000 AUGEN DES DR. MABUSE (1960), after which he nearly lost his sight. In 1963, Lang made his final screen appearance, playing himself in Jean-Luc Godard’s LE MÉPRIS‎. Then, he passed away in 1976 from a stroke.

Fritz Lang’s life spanned two world wars and witnessed the transformation of cinema from Germany to Hollywood, as well as the technological revolution from silent films to talkies. His works were not only innovative in form but also confronted the complexities and struggles of human nature through the battles of characters and their destinies. Even today, his films still evoke a unique visual tension and psychological depth, paving a distinctive path in the exploration of cinematic art. His name is thus etched in the annals of world cinema, becoming an eternal symbol.

THE BIG HEAT(1953)

Highlights:

A different kind of film noir, yet also featuring the stunning Gloria Grahame.

Detective Dave Bannion is assigned to investigate the suicide of a colleague, only to unwittingly unravel a vast criminal network filled with a series of conspiracies, betrayals, and violence. As his investigation deepens, Bannion discovers he might also be entangled in an endless game of danger.

This film encompasses all classic elements of film noir, with multiple narrative twists, and stands out as one of Fritz Lang’s quintessential works in the genre. The participation of Hollywood star Gloria Grahame adds considerable richness to the film. She plays Debbie, the girlfriend of a gang member, portraying a character that embodies pride, fear, vulnerability, and courage, demonstrating remarkable depth in her performance. French director François Truffaut praised her, stating that among the many stars of American cinema, “Gloria Grahame’s vibrant humanity is truly unparalleled.” Her performance adds essential dramatic dimension to the film.

The screening this time will unveil for us the newly restored 4K version of this film selected for the Classics section of this year’s Venice International Film Festival, giving Shanghai audiences the opportunity to be among the first to experience this latest version.

Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog was born in Munich in 1942. As a child, he experienced wartime bombings and first encountered cinema through traveling screenings while studying in a remote school. His early experiences with film sparked a deep interest in audiovisual narrative techniques, and by the age of 14, he began writing screenplays, establishing his own production company around the age of 20. At 26, he wrote and directed his debut feature film LEBENSZEICHEN(1968), which was nominated for the Jury Grand Prix at the 18th Berlin International Film Festival. Since then, he has remained a prolific filmmaker, with over 70 works, including more than ten films nominated for Europe’s top three film festivals, making him one of the most productive filmmakers in the world.

In 1975, Herzog’s anthropological experimental film JEDER FÜR SICH UND GOTT GEGEN ALLE‎ was nominated for the main competition of the 28th Cannes Film Festival and won the Jury Prize, becoming one of his early representative works. Based on true events in Europe, the film tells the story of Kaspar Hauser, a boy who was isolated from the world and suddenly appears on the streets of Nuremberg. Through the clash between primal human instincts and the mechanisms of 19th-century social civilization, the director conveys a reflective critique of society.

Perhaps the tumultuous life he experienced in his youth led him to critically observe violence and conquest within human civilization. He is passionate about depicting extraordinary environments and marginalized groups; in addition to JEDER FÜR SICH UND GOTT GEGEN ALLE, his works with similar themes include STROSZEK (1977) and GRIZZLY MAN (2005).

Werner Herzog on the set of JEDER FÜR SICH UND GOTT GEGEN ALLE

Herzog exhibits great empathy towards the characters in his films, aiming for a representation that adheres as closely as possible to historical facts. He utilizes improvisation during filming to capture performers’ real-time reactions in genuine situations. For JEDER FÜR SICH UND GOTT GEGEN ALLE, he cast musician Bruno S., who had never acted before, to play the lead role. Bruno S. experienced childhood abuse and spent much of his youth in a psychiatric institution, but through perseverance, he became a self-taught artist and gradually gained societal acceptance. To authentically portray the character learning to walk, Bruno practiced with a wooden board until his legs became numb before beginning his performance. Ultimately, their collaboration brought to life the journey of this tragic figure from uncivilized beginnings to eventual destruction, making the film one of the director's most iconic works. 

Herzog when filming the Volcanoes

Werner Herzog possesses a profound curiosity and respect for the world. He delights in exploring new landscapes while contemplating serious themes surrounding nature and life with a solemn and reverent attitude. In 1982, he completed FITZCARRALDO, a project that took him four years and which was nominated for the main competition at the 35th Cannes Film Festival, where he won the Best Director Award. The film tells the thrilling story of an opera enthusiast’s attempt to build a grand opera house in a small Peruvian town, and has been described as an epic work.

Starting in the 1990s, Herzog shifted his focus to documentary filmmaking, producing works such as LEKTIONEN IN FINSTERNIS‎ (1992), THE WHITE DIAMOND (2004), and ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD (2007). In 2022, at the age of eighty, he completed THE FIRE WITHIN: A REQUIEM FOR KATIA AND MAURICE KRAFFT‎, which earned the Best Documentary Award at the 28th Shanghai TV Festival.

Herzog's works are known for breaking conventions, continually pushing the boundaries of cinematic imagery. To date, he has produced, written, and directed over 60 films. In 2017, the Directors’ Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival honored him with the Golden Coach, a lifetime achievement award. Additionally, he has published more than a dozen essay collections and created numerous opera works.

JEDER FÜR SICH UND GOTT GEGEN ALLE  (1974)

Highlights:

How do you judge whether he comes from the Village of Truth or the Village of Lies with a question?

This film is adapted from the well-known European oddity of 1828, where the young Kaspar Hauser was brought to Nuremberg, Germany, by a mysterious figure, claiming to have grown up isolated in a dungeon, knowing only a few phrases and having just learned to walk. The director chose musician Bruno S. for the male lead. Despite having no professional training and being far older than 16 at the time of filming, his convincing performance is attributed to his own traumatic past and self-taught journey, which the director later described as “the best actor I’ve ever worked with.”

The film portrays Kaspar Hauser's assimilation into society, showcasing his learning and engagement with modern civilization, ultimately leading to his tragic downfall. It vividly contrasts his naive primal instincts with the complexities of social order, offering profound philosophical reflections on human civilization.

Regarded as one of Herzog’s finest works, it was nominated for the main competition at the 28th Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize. This screening features a 2K restored version.

Thus, all the films in this event have now been revealed, with tickets going on sale across all platforms at noon on October 18 (Friday). Please stay tuned for the ticketing guide to be released on October 17 for more purchasing information.

Furthermore, on October 21 and 30, there will be related events held, and we welcome all attendees to plan ahead and join us. Stay tuned for more information on guests and events, as well as further details about the “Retrospective of German Film Masters” on our official account.

Additionally, a series of merchandise will be launched for the event, including posters of the showcase, ticket holders, refrigerator stickers, notepads, canvas bags, and T-shirts. These items are already available for pre-sale through the official applet, drawing a number of film enthusiasts. During the event, merchandise will also be sold onsite at the screening venues, so we encourage fans to come and pick their favorite items.

SIFF SCREENING

“SIFF SCREENING”, a brand created by SIFF, extends the festival’s mission to satisfy the artistic needs of audiences, offering a richer and more diverse cinematic experience that fosters a more engaging viewing atmosphere.