Das Schweigen am Starnbergersee 1920 ( 4.4)

This is a very early feature by Rolf Raffé concerning the supposedly "mad" King of Bavaria, Ludwig II, probably the first feature film concerning the life of that King. In the piece, which is for the most part a straightforwards historical biopic from the DW Griffith school of narrative filmmaking, Ludwig is portrayed as an Idealist who cannot fit into the world of his contemporaries.

Tales of Hoffmann 1916 ( 5.2)

This movie, directed by Richard Oswald, is based on the operetta "Les contes de Hoffmann" by Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880), which is a genial musical potpourri from various short stories and novels by the Prussian writer, composer, painter, lawyer and judge E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776-1822). While Hoffmann's literary work was longtime considered to be merely fantastical, it was finally researched, in the last years, according to its metaphysical background. Characteristic for Hoffmann's work is his life-long fight against rationalism and for the revelation of nature morte, culminating mostly in carnival-like scenes anticipating literary techniques only described in the works of Bachtin and Bachelard.

A Crazy Night 1927 ( 6)