The Golem: How He Came Into the World (Original acompaniment: Jan Brauer)

The Golem: How He Came Into the World
Director: Paul Wegener, Carl Boese
Music: Jan Brauer
Germany | 1920 | 76 mins | Silent with score| DCP |B&W
*With after-screening talk. Conducted in English.

The dangerous contradictions created by tyranny

Suffering under an absolute monarchy in Prague in the 1600s, Rabbi Lowe, a magician and master of the Black Art, wants to prevent the persecution of his Jewish people, and creates a giant warrior, the golem, to protect their safety. The golem is sculpted of clay and animated by the spirit of Astaroth, and is a seemingly indestructible juggernaut with superpower, performing acts of great heroism, yet equally capable of dreadful violence. When the rabbi’s assistant takes control of the golem and attempts to use him for selfish gain, the golem evades human influence...

This finely rendered expressionist work of unleashed desire and potential damnation is based on a Jewish folklore. Co-director, Paul Wegener, plays the golem. The film was one of the most successful German silent film productions, both artistically and financially. Despite its bleakness, The Golem still bursts with brightness and hope, and is a masterpiece of German horror cinema.

Commissioned by Goethe-Institut Hongkong, Berlin-based DJ and electronic music composer Jan Brauer will accompany this classic silent movie with a contemporary score.
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