Sunrise is one of the greatest silent films ever made. The cinematography is captivating and ground-breaking. There are certain sequences which are unforgettable. It tells the story of a man (George O'Brien) who is unfaithful to his wife (Janet Gaynor) with a woman from the city (Margaret Livingston). The man and his mistress plot to drown his wife but he has second thoughts and on a trip to the city, they mend their broken relationship and slowly rebuild their marriage. It is artistically beautiful to look at. Some scenes in the city when they are walking down the streets are fascinating and a joy to watch. It is a film about redemption and second-chances. The acting is good for the time but the film is really about the visuals. Cinematographers Charles Rosher and Karl Struss are masters of long takes, mobile camera work and expressive lighting.
Murnau is an alumni of the German Expressionism camp of filmmaking and here he proves to be an expert at creating a moody ambiance and moving scenes. This is a film you can watch over and over and never get tired of it because it is so thrilling to behold.
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