Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans

Starring: George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor, Margaret Livingston, Bodil Rosing, J. Farrell MacDonald
Directed by: F.W. Murnau
Rating: Passed
Genre: Drama, Romance
1927

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A man (George O'Brien) struggles between his feelings for his wife (Janet Gaynor) and his lover (Margaret Livingston) as he's pushed to make a decision that will impact his soul.

Review:

Tim: Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans is widely regarded as a cinematic masterpiece. While it doesn't immediately jump to mind like some other classics, there's no doubt it has a special place in many critic's eyes. As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the film and its innovations, but I would slot it one tier below some of the greatest films. It's hard to write a review for a movie like this. It's so good and I want to highlight that, but I also need to acknowledge it wouldn't quite make it on my favorite films list. I'm not entirely sure how to do that.

There's so much to like, though, about F.W. Murnau's Expressionist classic, his first American film. The lavish set design, telling the story about characters with no names so they serve as human archetypes, the lyrical quality of the story, the range of emotions experienced. It's absolutely something to behold. Murnau expertly crafts this film that oftentimes feels dreamlike or supernatural. It feels like a song and I enjoyed that inclusion in the original title.

The story also has some powerful moral lessons. In the beginning of the film, we see a man on the verge of committing one of the most evil acts imaginable. He wants to kill his wife so he can move to the city with his lover. You think about the betrayal of such an atrocity, and you understand the inner turmoil he faces. His decision and everything that comes after that is spellbinding, and it tells an intriguing story about human frailty, moral strength, forgiveness, love, and redemption. All of these elements are fully present in this film.

I liked the cast, too. George O'Brien is solid in the lead role. It's kind of your typical male silent film performance. I wouldn't say I loved his performance, but it works. Janet Gaynor was special, though. She won the first Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance here (as well as in 7th Heaven and Street Angel). She had this wonderful quality- her eyes sparkle on screen and you feel such warmth from her character, but she projects this vulnerability and simplicity that is engaging. She makes a visible contrast to Margaret Livingston's scheming Woman from the City. I really enjoyed Gaynor's performance here- it's so critical to the film.

While there's so much I did like about the movie, a few things bothered me, too. Namely, the events that take place after the fateful boating trip in the beginning of the movie. It felt too forced, too convenient. Murnau didn't sell me on how these characters would change so much, so quickly. I think a sudden revelation and about-face is an oft-used cinematic tactic, but real life is more complicated and messy than that. I would have liked to see more nuance, more complexity to those scenes. As presented, they didn't make me develop a deeper emotional connection to the characters. I stayed where I was, slightly removed. There is a moment near the end that feels fraught with danger, and I felt that emotional connection to Gaynor's character. I experienced emotions worrying about her. I didn't feel the same for O'Brien and I needed to, for this movie to be truly great. The other issue I had was the dreamlike quality of the film, which is also a big strength, created some issues (at least on first viewing). I did wonder multiple times if this was supposed to actually be a dream, or if it was just an allegory, or supposed to represent purgatory, or something. I was a bit confused and I would have liked just a bit more concrete to latch onto.

I may not love Sunrise, but I'm absolutely a fan. In addition to winning Best Actress, it also won Best Cinematography and Best Picture, Unique and Artistic Production, whatever the heck that is. This is an expertly made silent film and represents some of the best film innovations of the era. It's a classic that's worth seeing.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
7th Heaven, Street Angel, Nosferatu