La Roue
‘There is cinema before and after La Roue the way there is painting before and after Picasso.’ So said Jean Cocteau about this monumental, seven (!) hour-long classic about forbidden desire by Abel Gance (Napoléon).
La Roue is one of the absolute highlights of silent cinema and marks a turning point in film history with its radical formal experiments and innovative editing techniques.
The film tells the story of the doomed love of railway engineer Sisif for Norma, the orphan girl he takes in and raises as his own daughter. When he realizes that his feelings for her go beyond paternal affection, he is torn apart by guilt and shame. His inner conflict sets in motion a chain of tragic events.
The plot is simple, yet Gance develops it into an intimate and compelling epic that captivates throughout its full running time. In particular, the rapid, rhythmic editing – revolutionary at the time – still leaves a striking impression.
Lumière presents a digitally restored version of La Roue, with music performed by the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra.