The 1926 silent fantasy-melodrama 'Faust', directed by FW Murnau, is marking its centenary. The film is an adaptation of Goethe's 19th-century story about an alchemist who sells his soul to the devil but is ultimately redeemed by love.
Murnau's film explores themes of evil and features echoes of his earlier work, 'Nosferatu'. It is also characterised by elements of Weimar Germany, including satire and black comedy.
Gösta Ekman portrays Faust, while Emil Jannings, who later won the first best actor Oscar, plays Mephisto. The narrative follows Faust's bargain with Mephisto, his subsequent desire to return to his youth, and his love for Gretchen, leading to tragic events.
The film is noted for its ambition and scale, including model work for landscapes and cityscapes, and the visual of Mephisto as a vast, evil angel.