Review of Sunrise (1985) by Kennson W — 24 Mar 2008

"sunrise" is german classic director murnau's masterpiece, and inevitably it's tinted with the contagious visuality of berlin expressionism to convey the protagonists' drastic moods which is laying bare the introvert in the extrovertly perceptive manners.

The story is about a married farmer's purgatory journey to re-seek his primary love for his chaste wife after indulging in the illicit affair with a urbanite flapper who sinfully coaxes him into drowning his spouse.

Due to the thick aesthetism permeating in this flick, it transcends beyond its potential moralistic content with the doctrine of marital fidelity, perhaps also partially related to the male madonna/whore complex which is a compartmentalizing dualism of female categorization. his wife is made typically innocent and enduringly virtuous, and his mistress is depicted as the ruthlessly amoral siren who attempts to obtain everything by any means.

The photography is dreamy in excellent craftmanship, such as the overlayered shot which surrounds the man with two embracing kisses as well as the floral pasture of lovers wandering happily in the field. of course, the gimmick of accidental smacker shot is heart-warmingly pleasant.

"sunrise" delineates love in a mostly childlike aroma, paying its hommage to the patriachal ideal without pretentiousness, also a pleasure of sheer purity, blossoming in marnau's uniquely descriptive camera angles.