M

(1931) dir. Fritz Lang; 117min.

FRIDAY, April 1st at 7 & 9:30pm

SATURDAY, April 2nd at 7 & 9:30pm

SUNDAY, April 3rd at 3pm

M is a film, that for 1931, and today, is a paragon of visual and dramatic conception. Both Peter Lorre and Gustaf Grundgens give the perfonces of their lifetime, and director Fritz Lang’s film becomes a close character study, delving deeply into the pyche of a madman. Indeed, one of the most special qualities of this film is its rich tapestry of characters, which are given a realistic, and fleshed-out portrayal that is certainly rare to find in films of this era. Simply put, these characters are given an agency that creates a cinematic landscape full of individuals who make their own, autonomous decisions, and not just two-dimensional faces. The film is also pioneering in its cinematography, and lighting that make it one the vanguards of the noir genre. M is an innovation in film history, and shouldn’t be missed by any lover of the medium.