Lecture
Professor David Peimer
Saturday 10.01.2026
Professor David Peimer
Weimar Cinema’s Obsession with Darkness: ‘Caligari’ and ‘Nosferatu’
Saturday 10.01.2026
How to watch
This lecture starts on 10 January at 5:00pm (UK).
Summary
Demonic forces, obedience to authority, dark splits in sanity, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Nosferatu mirror the Weimar Republic after World War I. We explore these fascinating classics of 1920’s German Expressionist film through various themes—from Caligari to Hitler and Nosferatu to stereotyped antisemitism and mysticism. Today, we see how these films resonate as democracy risks sliding into the stony sleep of history.
Professor David Peimer
David Peimer is a Professor of Literature, Film and Theatre in the UK. He has worked for the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, New York University (Global Division) and was a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University. Born in South Africa, David has won numerous awards for playwriting and directing. He has most recently directed Dame Janet Suzman in his own play, Joanna’s Story, at London Jewish Book Week. He has published numerous books, including Armed Response: Plays from South Africa and the digital book Theatre in the Camps. He is on the board of the Pinter Centre (London), and has been involved with the Mandela Foundation, Vaclav Havel Foundation and directed a range of plays at Mr Havel’s Prague theatre.