FM4 German Expressionism Exam Questions

German and Soviet cinema of the 1920s


•Compare ways in which German and Soviet films of the period use visual means to create tension and suspense.

•Is German and/or Soviet cinema of the 1920s better seen as a cinema fascinated by victims or a cinema engaging with ideas of oppression?

•In the films you have studied from this period, which features of film construction create the most powerful impression: cinematography, editing or mise-en-scène?

•In what ways do you believe it has been worth studying films from this period? Make sure you refer to details from the films themselves to support your ideas.

•What are some of the similarities and/or differences in the ways in which conflict is represented in the films you have studied?

•Consider some of the ways in which performance and movement are used in the films you have studied to convey themes and ideas.

•Is it necessary to put these films into the context of the social and political upheavals of the 1920s in Germany and the Soviet Union in order to properly understand them?