Also known as
Büchse der Pandora, Die
Lists
- ranked 95 in Chicago Tribune 100 Best Films of the Century
- ranked 175 in They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1000 Greatest Films (August 2005)
- ranked 189 in They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1000 Greatest Films (March 2006)
- ranked 198 in They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1000 Greatest Films (December 2006)
- one of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
- one of Guardian 1,000 films to see before you die
- one of Movieline's 100 Best Foreign Films
The Pabst connection in Basterds reminded me this was on the shelf.
It's astoundingly modern in its cuts and framing, and even moreso in the understated, ambiguously innocent sexuality of Lulu (Louise Brooks), whose love dooms herself and everyone around her.
Without much dialogue, Pabst makes this film a study in the directed gaze. Alwa watches Lulu watching Dr. Schön. Rodrigo watches Countess Geschwitz with Lulu; Geschwitz watches Lulu with Alwa. The camera watches them all.
A masterpiece.