Pandora's Box

About Pandora's Box

Pandora's Box, a silent cinema landmark released in 1929, is a German film helmed by master director G.W. Pabst. The film is centred around the beautiful, yet destructive, showgirl Lulu whose raw sexuality and high-spirited energy prove both attractive and devastating for those around her. Lulu's character triggers a chain of events filled with dramatic moments, eventually leading to an unexpected climax that remains engraved in cinematic history.

Making / Production

Directed by G. W. Pabst, Pandora's Box was based on two plays by the German playwright Frank Wedekind. Pabst, who was one of the prominent figures of the Weimar cinema, managed to articulate the tragic destiny of Lulu with a sense of instinctive melancholy that still resonates with modern viewers. The film is characterized by its claustrophobic set design and Pabst's meticulous direction, facilitating a heightened sense of despair and tragic inevitability.

Actors

• Louise Brooks - Playing the role of Lulu, Brooks captured the essence of a tragic heroine with a captivating performance filled with innocence and seduction.
• Fritz Kortner - Kortner, as Dr. Schon, perfectly portrayed the character torn between passion for Lulu and societal expectations.
• Francis Lederer - Lederer, playing Alwa Schon, braved the character of a man hopelessly in love with his stepmother.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Pandora's Box was controversially received at the time of its release due to its explicit depiction of sexuality and moral issues.
• Louise Brooks, an American actress, was not widely recognized in her home country until she achieved stardom in Germany with this film.
• The film is considered to be one of the great masterpieces of the "silent" era and has been forensically restored for modern viewers.

Quotes

• "You won't tell me? Then you don't love me." - Lulu.
• "A man... a real man... will never let himself be gallows-meat for a woman." - Rodrigo.

Music, Soundtrack

• The 1997 restoration by the Munich Filmmuseum features a compiled orchestral score by Aljoscha Zimmermann.