Šanghajský expres + předfilm

A train journey through civil war-torn China tells the story of a woman with a past, one in which the destructive forces of fate intervene. The paths of former lovers cross once again on a train left at the mercy of the whims of anti-government rebels. The exotic setting of China, the desperate helplessness of refugees, violent clashes of demagogic attitudes, a barbaric penchant for cruelty, and situations brimming with intense emotions all heighten the authenticity of the grand gestures made by the protagonists of this melodramatic story, which von Sternberg, with the help of cinematographer Lee Garmes, masterfully tells primarily through visual stylization carried by chiaroscuro lighting. The veiled depth of space, faces submerged in half-shadows, and hints of suppressed gestures open up space for the unspoken, which has always been the essence of Sternberg’s artistic expression.

• supporting film:
  The Bridge / Joris Ivens / Netherlands, 1928 / 11 min. / 35 mm – Joris Ivens’s debut, which ranks among the seminal works of the film avant-garde. It is a visual symphony of movement, rhythm, and shifting structures, and at the same time a hymn celebrating the achievements of civilization.