Diving: A discussion after a screening of "M"
·
·
Fritz Lang’s M (1931) is a film that continues to provoke serious reflection. Set during the final years of the Weimar Republic, it follows a city’s effort to capture a child murderer. The film builds tension through its use of sound, silence, and atmosphere, revealing a society unraveling under fear, suspicion, and distrust of authority.
The Sadist ("Der Sadist") is a book published by the German psychiatrist Karl Berg, following the confessions of Peter Kürten, a well-known serial murderer in late 1920s Germany.
Studying the book, M does a superlative work of depicting the proclivities of Hans Beckert, the protagonist of M, which in turn makes the film still relevant and factually accurate.
The murderer’s eerie whistling of “In the Hall of the Mountain King” became one of the earliest uses of a recurring audio motif in film history. Lang also used silence deliberately, creating tension through restraint.
Although an early talky, M's success influenced the development of noir, crime drama, psychological thriller, and police procedural genres.
Involving the ringvereine (the German equivalent of the mafia), M depicts the societal chaos in 1930s Germany and the failure of Weimar administration.
What's more, basing story events on real crimes conducted by the ringvereine, M stands out among serial killer films by being authentic, engaging, and socially relevant. Lang chose M as his favourite for its social and political commentary.
M is not a film, but a masterpiece. It's for the beady-eyed film student and the picky connoisseur. It's for the thoughtful and the thirsty.
It's something that will linger in your memory for its unique story and masterful storytelling.
During our recent screening and discussion of the film, we looked at the real-world influences behind the film - especially the case of Peter Kürten and how Lang used Karl Berg’s The Sadist to shape the character of Hans Beckert. The film’s attention to psychological detail is one reason it still feels current. Lang didn’t rely on sensationalism. He focused on behavior, voice, and movement to create something that still disturbs audiences today.
We also spoke about M’s technical and cultural legacy. As an early sound film, it introduced techniques that would shape noir, psychological thrillers, and procedural dramas. It also portrayed organized crime and law enforcement in ways that were uncommon for its time, raising questions about accountability and power.
More than ninety years later, M still feels relevant. Thanks to everyone who came for the screening and stayed for the conversation.
IF YOU LIKED SERIAL KILLER FILMS LIKE SEVEN, PSYCHO, AND THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS; THEN THESE ARE FOR YOU:
-
Burning (2018) by Lee Chang-dong
-
The Snowtown Murders (2012) by Justin Kurzel
-
Memories of Murder (2003) by Bong Joon-ho
-
Monster (2004) by Patty Jenkins
-
Badlands (1973) by Terrence Malick
See you at the next one!
Comments
John Smith —
I’m recommending Dr Agbon to everyone who has herpes simplex virus to get the cure from him. I was diagnosed with genital herpes in 2022 and I have been searching and asking questions to see if i could get something to cure the disease because i did not believe what the doctors say that no cure is found yet. I contacted Dr Agbon and explained my problem to him and he prepared the herbs and sent it to me . and gave me instructions on how to use it and told me to go for checkup after usage which I did after two weeks of taking the herbal medicine and my result was NEGATIVE. I waited another month and retested, the result was still NEGATIVE and my doctor told me that I am completely free from herpes, Contact him now WHATSAPP: +2349058797761.
Email: dragboherbalhome@gmail.com.
Website: https://dragbonherbalhome.wixsite.com/my-site-3
Melanie Case —
I was diagnosed with HERPES for 2 months and my doctor said it has no cure but not until I met Dr OLIHA who help me get rid of it totally using natural herbs without any effect , reach out via. https://olihamiraclemedici.wixsite.com/drolihamiraclemedici/ or whatsapp him +2349038382931
coinsrecoveryworldwide —
Investment scams are becoming increasingly common in the world of cryptocurrency, with many individuals falling victim to fraudulent schemes promising high returns on their investments. These scams can result in the loss of significant amounts of money, leaving victims feeling helpless and devastated.
CoinsRecoveryWorldwide is a trusted and reliable resource for individuals who have fallen victim to investment scams involving Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. They specialize in helping clients recover their lost assets and funds through their expertise and experience in navigating the complex world of cryptocurrency scams.
CoinsRecoveryWorldwide works tirelessly to investigate and track down the perpetrators of these scams, working with law enforcement agencies and other authorities to ensure that justice is served. They provide a range of services to assist clients in recovering their assets, including legal representation, forensic analysis, and negotiation with scammers.
If you have been the victim of an investment scam involving Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, don’t hesitate to reach out to CoinsRecoveryWorldwide for assistance. They have a proven track record of success in recovering lost assets for their clients and can help you navigate the process of recovering your funds. Don’t let scammers get away with your hard-earned money – contact CoinsRecoveryWorldwide today for help in recovering your assets.
Contact information
WEBSITE; https://coinsrecoveryworldwide.mobirisesite.com/ EMAIL.COINSRECOVERYWORLDWIDE@GMAIL.COM WHATSAPP:+17658236083]
Manuel Franco —
I promised Great Dr. Odunga to post this testimony and I really want to say “Thank You” to everyone who supported me through the years. My name is Manuel Franco, New Berlin, Wisconsin. My story of how I won the Powerball lottery of $768.4M is a bit of a tale. I was feeling very lucky that day because I had contacted Great Odunga to help me with the winning Powerball numbers. I really had that great great feeling that I looked at the camera wanting to wink at it. I only did a tiny part of it when he told me he would give me the numbers and trusted him. He gave me the numbers after I played a couple other tickets along with it for $10. I checked my ticket after the winnings came online and saw the numbers were correct including the Power play. I screamed for about 10 minutes because it felt like a dream coming into reality. I had won $768.4M. Thank you Great Odunga. Well, his emails are odungaspelltemple@gmail.com and odungaspelltemple@outlook.com You can also call or Whats-app him at +2348167159012 so you guys can contact him
HE CAN ALSO FIX THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS. RELIABLE AND TRUSTED
Lottery Spell Love/Reunion Spell Pregnancy Spell Protection Spell Marriage spell Healing/Cure spellContact him for any of these today:
EMAIL: odungaspelltemple@gmail.com OR odungaspelltemple@outlook.com also Call and WHATS-APP HIM +2348167159012.
Jenifer Zara —
HOW I FINALLY GOT MY STOLEN FUNDS BACK // ALL THANKS TO THE HACK ANGELS RECOVERY EXPERT
Have you lost money in a cryptocurrency or online investment scam? Are you desperately searching for help recovering your stolen funds? If you find yourself in such difficulty, get in touch with THE HACK ANGELS RECOVERY EXPERT to recover your scammed funds back. I was devastated when I lost over $975,000 in an investment trading company. I was down because the company refused to let me make withdrawals and kept asking for more money. My friend introduced me to THE HACK ANGELS RECOVERY EXPERT. I was able to recover my money back. They are knowledgeable professionals, and I am grateful for their assistance. You can contact them using the details below
Email: support@thehackangels.com
Website at www.thehackangels.com
WhatsApp +1(520)200-2320
If you’re unsure of what to do next. In a few days, you will see the efforts they took to recover the money they stole from you.