Walter Ruttmann - Short films 1921-1925

Running time: 25'

Experimenting with abstract film, Ruttmann made a series of animated films under the name “Opus.” Those fims are experimental audio-visual forms – geometric forms made to classical music, the aim of which was to expand the range of painting onto the audio-visual medium. “Lichtspiel Opus I” was officially presented in front of a bigger audience in 1921 – it was the first public screening of an abstract film in Germany. Making subsequent instalments of the series, Ruttmann improved his technique fundamentally, becoming the leading representative of German film avant-garde of the 1920s.  

Lichtspiel Opus I 
Production: GER 1921, 12‘
   
Opus II
Production: GER 1922, 4‘

Opus III
Production: GER 1924, 4‘
     
Opus IV 
Production: GER 1925, 5‘

 

Authors:

  • Walter Ruttmann

    Graduate painter and architect of the Universities of Zurich and Munich. Along with Hans Richter and Viking Eggeling he experimented with abstract filmmaking for some time. After 1925 Ruttmann decided to end his activities in this area, and directed his passion towards the exploration of film editing techniques. He is most famous for “Berlin: Symphony of a Big City” from 1927. Ruttmann later became part of the Nazi propaganda apparatus. He worked with Leni Riefenstahl, with whom he wrote the script to “Triumph of the Will.” He is also one of the cinematographers for “Metropolis” and “The Nibelungs” by Fritz Lang. Died in the battlefield during World War II, making a film chronicle about the western front. 

    Filmography:

    Lichtspiel Opus I-IV (1921-1925)     
    Der Sieger (1922)
    Das Wunder (1922)     
    Der Aufstieg (1926)
    Spiel der Wellen (1926)
    Berlin, die Sinfonie der Großstadt (1927)
    Dort, wo der Rhein… (1927)
    Deutscher Rundfunk (1928)
    Melodie der Welt (1929)
    Weekend (1930)
    In der Nacht(1931)
    Acciaio (1933)
    Triumph des Willens (1934)
    Im Dienste der Menschheit (1937)
    Deutsche Panzer (1940)
     

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Screenings: