I am in agreeance with Julia's and Seth's respective reasonings for supporting the framing. During the last two classes I have tried to articulate my approval of the technique, but everyone else's support of the Kracauer article has been rather intimidating. In my opinion, a lot of this film's avant-garde quotient comes from the viewer's uncomfortable feelings after the "twist" that the framing device provides. I am not arguing with the fact that the framing device takes away from the screenwriter's original message - I support this view. I am arguing, however, that this does not matter. The framing device was the choice of Wiene as the filmmaker, making it personal to him - an aspect of avant-garde - even if the viewer does not understand the choice. I do not feel that the framing was inserted to please the commercial audience either. To me, the framing further complicated the story by forcing the viewer to distrust Francis' story and therefore his narration. It is a very unpleasant feeling to feel betrayed by a narrator, one that is not particularly conducive to appeasing a mainstream-cinema audience. If one is still looking for the message of undermining authority, look deeper. This idea is provided by our confusion at the closing of the film, with our notions of satisfaction and dependence on the narrator's authority undermined by the corruption of the framing device's realities.
I really hope that my point is understood. This is the second time that I have typed this post up and I have had a terrible headache the whole time. I wish I had the energy to comment on the amazing amazing amazing amazing staging in this movie. Many of you already captured my awe in your posts anyway. Also, on a final note, I really liked Cesare's super mod mop-top haircut and costuming. Damn, boy - I didn't know that youz got style!
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Kyle, I don't know why you were holding back -- you express yourself very eloquently! I have a hard time articulating myself in class too, so I understand. I totally agree with your view on the framing device, and I love your "betrayed by the narrator" take on the ending! I never thought of it that way. Betraying the audience through the narrator is definitely not something everyday movies do. However, I did not doubt Francis' credibility at the end. In fact, I trusted him all the way through and simply felt pit for him and the horrible turn his life had taken. Meanwhile, I wondered why the doctor had gotten out of containment and turned everyone against Francis. But that's just my experience. Maybe I refused to question Francis simply because he was the narrator, and therefore did not feel betrayed by him. And Cesare really did have great style, especially for someone who had been sleeping for years!
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