Explain how the political, social and economic context of the Weimar Republic affected the production and content of classic German Expressionist Cinema.

Between 1918-1933 Germany were attempting to recover from the impact of WWI, such as having to pay back reparations as agreed by the Treaty of Versailles.

‘The New Objectivity movement started in Germany in the aftermath of World War One. It challenged its predecessor, Expressionism , which was a more idealistic and romantic movement. Artists returned to a more realistic way of painting, reflecting the harsh reality of war, and, Experimentation in German art came to an end when the Nazis came to power in 1933’

The economic disruption of the Weimar period produced an Expressionist style in German film-making, with films often having unrealistic sets and featuring exaggerated acting techniques with the film makers favouring darker storylines and themes, including horror and crime. The shortage of funding, due to the war impact, gave rise to the Kammerspielfilm movement, with atmospheric films made on small sets with low budgets.