Review of Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) by Evan M — 24 Jul 2008

Is this the greatest silent film ever made? Probably. There are few things in the silent cinema that rank with F.W. Murnau's masterpiece. Intolerance, City Lights, and Metropolis are probably the only other films worthy of that title.

What makes Sunrise so great is its dualism. The whole movie exists in and around contrasts, sunrise/sunset, light/dark, city/country, man/woman, innocence/corruption and even form/theme. The themes and emotions are incredibly simple, and for that reason they are intenslely affecting.

Yet, although the thematic structure of the may be simple, the forms with which Murnau paints his images are not. This is simply one of the most gorgeous films in history. Each image is an act of profession by Murnau, who places his faith entirely in the beauty of the natural world.

Murnau may be the single most underrated director in cinema history, no one has had such a profound affect on cinema and been so shafted by larger audiences. This film was made just before the switch to sound, and it really is the zenith of silent cinema: simple, elegant, beautiful, and utterly moving.