City Girl

FW Murnau, Silent, (1930) 77 mins

Screening Saturday 13th 4.15pm €12

City Girl is the first film FW Murnau made after completing what is now acknowledged as his masterpiece -Sunrise. In many ways it feels like he was drawing his breath as the film has a charm and a warmth all its own and is arguably a much lighter affair than Sunrise, full of the excitement of first love. The film tells the story of one man from the country who upon his first visit to the city falls for a beautiful waitress (the 'city girl'). As usual Murnau seems here like he is inventing film grammar as he goes with amazing tracking shots and expressionistic contrasts between country and city. Like all Murnau films it is a masterclass in visual storytelling, and for anyone who enjoyed Sunrise, don’t miss this fascinating opportunity to see where his career might have taken him if it hadn't been cut short (he died in a car accident aged 42).

Presented by Kevin Brownlow

Venue Cinema 2