THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (1920)
Robert Wiene | Germany | Silent film | German intertitles with English subtitles
THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI is one of the most influential horror films ever made. More than a century after its release, Robert Wiene's extraordinary silent film remains a disturbing exploration of madness, murder and the power of the human mind.
At a carnival in a small German town, the mysterious Dr. Caligari (Werner Krauss) presents Cesare (Conrad Veidt), a sleepwalker who has supposedly remained unconscious for 23 years. Caligari claims Cesare can predict the future, but when a series of murders begins, a young man suspects the sinister showman may be controlling something far more dangerous than a fairground attraction.
What makes CALIGARI remarkable is its visual world. Production designers Hermann Warm, Walter Reimann and Walter Röhrig abandoned realistic scenery in favour of distorted buildings, crooked streets and impossible perspectives. Shadows were painted directly onto the sets, while the actors' exaggerated movements and theatrical makeup became part of the strange architecture surrounding them. The result helped establish German Expressionism as one of cinema's most influential artistic movements, shaping the visual language of horror and film noir for generations.
Released in 1920, less than two years after the First World War, the film reflected the anxieties of a German society traumatised by conflict and political upheaval. Screenwriters Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer created a story that has often been interpreted as a warning about authoritarian power and the dangerous relationship between those who command and those who obey. Changes to the original screenplay, particularly its framing narrative, have remained the subject of debate among film historians.
In 2014, the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Foundation completed an extensive 4K restoration using surviving original camera-negative material and historical prints. The painstaking work recovered the film's distinctive colour tinting and Expressionist intertitles, revealing visual details that had been obscured in earlier versions.
For FOMO, THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI offers a rare opportunity to experience the origins of modern cinematic horror on the big screen. Its extraordinary sets and unsettling performances are a reminder that some of cinema's most powerful nightmares were created long before sound, colour or digital effects..
FOOD AND DRINK POLICY: SHEREKILEBI Bar in FOMO Cinema opens 1 hour before the first screening of the day and closes at 01:30, serving a wide selection of beer, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic refreshments, as well as fresh hot popcorn! Outside food is allowed in the bar butnot in the cinema. No alcohol or drinks from outside allowed. All guests are invited to arrive early and stay late!
LOCATION: FOMO Secret Cinema, Bazari Orbeliani, Tbilisi. A five minute walk from Liberty Square metro.
HOW TO FIND FOMO: Enter Bazari Orbeliani via Atoneli St above Carrefour and take the stairs on your left to Level 1. Signage on the door. You can also check our Instagram story highlights for a video showing exactly how to find us: https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3OTMzMTA2Mjk0MDI5MjM1
REFUND & CREDIT POLICY: If FOMO cancels a screening, all ticket holders will receive a full refund. If your plans change and you can no longer attend, we’ll issue you a credit for the value of your ticket if you let us know 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. The credit an be used for any FOMO film screening within the following 30 days.
TICKETS are also available to purchase over the bar if not sold out.
FOMO Secret Cinema • Bazari Orbeliani, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia
