Framed by impressive documentary footage from the port of Lübeck, the restored version of the silent film adaptation of Thomas Mann's 1901 novel tells the story of the decline of the upper-class Buddenbrook merchant family in Lübeck.
Framed by impressive documentary footage from the port of Lübeck, the film focuses on selected episodes from the literary source material. Director Gerhard Lamprecht places the present day of the Weimar Republic, which was marked by economic crisis and upheaval, at the centre of the plot. The opening credits state that the film was made ‘based on motifs from the novel of the same name’. Thomas Mann distanced himself from this elegantly staged and intensely acted film version, declaring that the only thing left of his novel was an ‘indifferent merchant drama’. However, the film was very well received by critics and audiences alike and was a success in German cinemas in 1923.
The film screening is being organised in cooperation between the Goethe-Institut Norway and our partner Cinemateket Oslo. Kjetil Schjander Luhr, silent film musician for Cinemateket Oslo since 2001, will accompany the silent film live on the piano.
Silent film. Germany, 1923. 108 minutes. English subtitles.
Director: Gerhard Lamprecht
