造物的奇迹

WunderderSchöpfungisanextraordinary,fascinatingKulturfilmtryingtoexplainthewholehumanknowledgeofthe1920sabouttheworldandtheuniverse.15specialeffectsexpertsand9cameramenwereinvolvedintheproductionofthisfilmwhichcombinesdocumentaryscenes,historicaldocuments,fictionelements,animationscenesandeducationalimpact.Ititsbeautifullycolored,usingtintingandtoninginaveryelaboratedway.SomevisualideasinthesequenceswithaspaceshuttlevisitingdifferentplanetsintheuniverseseemtohavetobetheinspirationforStanleyKubrick's2001:ASpaceOdyssey.InthecontextofGermany'sKulturfilmphenomenon,WunderderSchöpfungwasamongthegreatestachievementsofthe1920s.Theproductionwasconstructed,rehearsed,andshotoveraperiodoftwoandahalfyears,underthesupervisionofHannsWalterKornblum.Theideatodescribetheuniverseandman'splaceinitwellsuitedUFA'sGrossfilmmentality,oneyearbeforetheMetropoliscatastrophe.Hundredsofskilledcraftsmenparticipatedintheproject,buildingpropsandconstructingscalemodelsdrawnby15specialeffectsdraughtsmen,while9camerameninseparateunitsworkedonthehistorical,documentary,fiction,animation,andscience-fictionsequences.Withoutstarrolesorevenprotagonists,thefilm'splotiscrowdedwithmeticulouslystructuredandskillfullyactedsinglescenesanartfulmosaicofsmallvignettes.Nolessthanfourcrediteduniversityprofessorsensuredthefactualbackgroundbehindthescientificandhistoricaleventsportrayed.Thefilm'ssymbolofprogressandthenewscientificeraisaspacecraft,travellingthroughtheMilkyWay,makingalltheplanetsandtheirinspiringworldsfamiliartous,withtheextravaganzaoftheirdistinctivefeatures.Thefilm'seducationalintentions,however,becomesteadilymoreobscure,humorous,orevencampyasthispopularizationprojectproceeds.Withtheexcuseofpresentingtheendoftheworldanot-so-newconceptasanew,undeniablyscientifictruth,thefilmveershappilyalonganewpath,displayingdetailedapocalypticscenesoftheendofmankind.Fortoday'saudiences,thisamazingfilmdemonstrateshowtheuniversewascomprehendedinthe1920s,andhowthatviewwassoldtocontemporaryaudiences.