Robert Siodmak People On Sunday Essay

2087 Words5 Pages

The era of the Weimar Republic was a time of great uncertainty for the people of Germany despite the post-war peace, progressive attitudes, and economic successes with which it is associated. This insecurity is commonly represented in much of the era’s popular film, from the eerie darkness of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to the destructive chaos of Metropolis. Robert Siodmak’s People on Sunday, however, is different. Produced in the summer of 1929, People on Sunday was loved by German critics and audiences alike for its refreshing perspective on life in Berlin. Its light-hearted realism initially struck a note in hundreds of thousands of viewers, and it continues to captivate viewers nearly a century later – but why? The answer seems to lie in the all-encompassing independence of the camera as it explores a city that could drown in the depths of its …show more content…

It cuts to the sight of hundreds of people walking on crowded city streets, almost as a reminder that the people on Sunday do, in fact, come from the city. This establishes an interest in the people once more, so the film cuts to where the people are on Sunday: the beach. Here, the film cuts back and forth between various camera shots as it observes individuals and expands to show the entire beach filled with hundreds of people. Various shots of people playing and relaxing in the water were cinematographically revolutionary at the time of the film’s publishing due to the camera’s placement over the water, which speaks volumes for the simple yet stunning execution of this scene. Within the span of about a minute, the film allows the camera to explore multiple perspectives, thus reflecting on the unity of history and the people on Sunday observed previously. This, of course, establishes a basic understanding of Berliners’ culture and can even create a point from which the audience can relate and connect to the people as a

Open Document