Movements That Changed Cinema

Throughout its history, cinema has been reshaped by movements: groups of filmmakers, often bound by time, place, and shared ideas, who challenged prevailing conventions and expanded the medium's possibilities. Studying movements reveals how film style carries meaning and how historical circumstances shape art.

German Expressionism

In the aftermath of the First World War, a striking style emerged in German cinema that used distorted sets, sharp contrasts of light and shadow, and stylized performance to externalize psychological states. Rather than depicting the world realistically, these films projected inner turmoil onto their environments, with jagged architecture and looming shadows expressing dread and madness. This expressionist approach profoundly influenced horror, film noir, and any