Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari Horror at its best in the concert hall

Dive into the uncanny world of early cinema with “Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari: Horror at its Best in the Concert Hall.” This milestone of German expressionism, shot in 1920, is famous for its leaning houses, painted shadows, and sets deliberately built to feel unreal—mirroring the psychological turmoil of its characters and evoking a vertiginous sense of unease. The story follows fairground showman Dr. Caligari, who showcases the sleepwalker Cesare, a somnambulist who claims to predict the future. After a string of mysterious murders, Cesare falls under suspicion, and the film’s narrative unravels as a flashback from the perspective of a young man named Francis, who seeks the truth. In a twist, the entire tale is revealed to have been told from an unexpected point of view, blurring the line between reality and madness—a narrative technique that has inspired Hitchcock, film noir, and countless horror thrillers that followed. On the big screen, the film is accompanied by the world-renowned French organ virtuoso and composer Thierry Escaich. Celebrated for his legendary improvisations—including his stirring last silent-film concert of Murnau’s “Sunrise”—Escaich’s dynamic organ performance will illuminate the film’s supernatural moods, heightening every haunting twist and grand reveal. Join us and experience the haunting beauty and psychological genius of 1920’s German cinema, brought to life by a masterful organist, in a concert film presentation that promises to astonish and enthrall every fan of classic film, music, and the supernatural.