Write a paragraph or two to explain which of the two silent films ( "The General"; "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans") you prefer and why you prefer it. After you finish your writing, please post your work to our class blog. Bring a copy to class for my evaluation and our discussion next week.
Be specific in your comments by referring to, for example, how the story is told to us, the importance of characters, the way the film communicates to us emotionally and so on. Remember that you can see these films again by visiting Archive.org
Buster Keaton's "The General" is a brilliant film that I love very much, but F. W. Murnau’s masterpiece, “Sunshine: Song of Two Humans,” wins for its humanity. The director aims for the universals of human experience, the passions that overtake us and make us do or say things we live to regret. There is so much to remember in the film: the man, rowing, head down with shame as he works up the courage to attack his wife; the hilarious shaving scene with its depiction of the jealous couple, each being bothered by unwanted attention; the villagers searching the waters for the wife and finding her floating with the bulrushes clutched to her breast. Each scene remains fresh in my memory. His poor wife, her whole being crushed by his infidelity, unable to even look at him for such a long time was heartbreaking to see. Mostly, however, it is the powerful depiction of the human ability to forgive that I will always remember. A great film!
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