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Alraune (PG*)

Silent Film & Live Music

,Barbican Cinema 1
Brigitte Helm lying on a cushion with face resting upon her hands

In this fable about the dangers of genetic engineering, a test-tube baby grows up to become a dangerous vamp

A scientist (Paul Wegener) embarks on an experiment to answer the question of whether an individual’s humanity is a product of nature or nurture. His plan: to inseminate a prostitute with the semen of a hanged murderer, and to make of the child a model citizen.

We join the story again years later with the child, now a teenager, at convent school. And something’s clearly not right: Alraune causes a rumpus in her dorm, cruelly drowns a fly, and puts a stag beetle down Mother Superior’s wimple. And worse: she is starting to intuit the awful power she has over men.

Despite advancing some pretty retro ideas about female sexuality, the film provides a wonderfully sexy, wicked role for Brigitte Helm and features some terrific 20s fashions.

The live musical accompaniment will be performed by Stephen Horne and Martin Pyne.

Tagged with: Cinema Life Rewired Silent Film & Live Music

Germany 1928 Dir Henrik Galeen 108 min 35mm presentation

Barbican Cinema 1

Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.   

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.