From "The British Film Institute's 100 Most Influential International Science Fiction Films" (BFI Press, 2008)
Gorwal (1954)
Gorwal is the first and perhaps defining film of the German Seltsametiere genre popular in Germany in the immediately aftermath of World War II. Modern watchers might be struck by the surprisingly grim and dark tone of the original, especially if they had watched any of the more whimsical Gorwal films or the absurdity of other Seltsametiere film. Underneath the facade of a escapist fantasy, we get a look into fears of nuclear weapons from a West German perspective, and how they dealt with Cold War tensions, especially in the aftermath of the testing of the hydrogen bomb.
The film is said to be a riff on Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. It also takes elements from King Kong in terms of story. Set on an island in the Azores, disrupted by American nuclear tests, a scientific team is sent to investigate what the effects are on the locals. The locals tell the scientists of an snake god called Gorwal, who leaves them alone, but who is now breathing fire and exhibiting other strange traits. While they don't believe the locals at first, when they venture further into the island, they find Gorwal, who turns out to be massive reptilian creature, in the ocean, where it kills and consumes several dolphin. The senior scientist, Dr. Heinrich Mordecai observes its pain, and laments that effects of nuclear war are clearly killing it. However, the creature becomes more erratic in behavior. One scientists, Katerina Schiff find its eggs, discovering the creature to be female. A more ambitious scientist, Dr. Joseph convinces the team to take the eggs back to Germany, over the protest of Mordecai and Schiff, to prove their discovery (secretly wanting the glory). This ultimately sets up the climax of the film, where Gorwal follows the team back to Germany, and travels in land all the way to Germany. The most iconic scene is Gorwal wrecking destruction over Berlin. It is only when a new experimental "oxydizer" is deployed, is Gorwal finally destroyed. Though Dr. Mordecai warns that "this is not the end...."
At the time of its release, critics accused the film of exploiting the imagery of the atomic bombing of Nuremberg and Frankfurt. The destruction of those cities by American forces to force German surrender was still fresh in the minds of the Germans during the production of Gorwal. Indeed, the Berlin scene is very reminiscent of the atomic destruction in Nuremberg, and the images of survivors and their struggle over the years. The suicide of Dr. Joseph upon witnessing the destruction of Berlin is a somewhat obvious call back to Hitler's suicide upon hearing of the atomic destruction of Frankfurt. The fact Germany had bourne personal witness to the destructive powers of nuclear weapons gave it a unique perspective. Gorwal is shown in a sympathetic light, suffering from radiation burns and driven mad by the scientists stealing her eggs. She is destroyed only because her continued presence was on the verge of destroying her own eggs (the hatchlings would later become the subject of Children of Gorwal), leaving no hope of peaceful resolution.
German audiences took to the film, and watched the films in droves. Despite a very negative review in Cahiers du Cinema, it was brought over to the United States, and dubbed, retaining the same name. It became a worldwide success. It also was the first West German film to be sent over officially to East Italy and Communist Austria. It has spawn off a whole franchise (with the most recent films including the 1998 remake by Japanese director Hideki Anno, and a most recent German incarnation in 2007), and indeed a whole genre, which retains fans to this day.
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Gorwal (1954)
Gorwal is the first and perhaps defining film of the German Seltsametiere genre popular in Germany in the immediately aftermath of World War II. Modern watchers might be struck by the surprisingly grim and dark tone of the original, especially if they had watched any of the more whimsical Gorwal films or the absurdity of other Seltsametiere film. Underneath the facade of a escapist fantasy, we get a look into fears of nuclear weapons from a West German perspective, and how they dealt with Cold War tensions, especially in the aftermath of the testing of the hydrogen bomb.
The film is said to be a riff on Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. It also takes elements from King Kong in terms of story. Set on an island in the Azores, disrupted by American nuclear tests, a scientific team is sent to investigate what the effects are on the locals. The locals tell the scientists of an snake god called Gorwal, who leaves them alone, but who is now breathing fire and exhibiting other strange traits. While they don't believe the locals at first, when they venture further into the island, they find Gorwal, who turns out to be massive reptilian creature, in the ocean, where it kills and consumes several dolphin. The senior scientist, Dr. Heinrich Mordecai observes its pain, and laments that effects of nuclear war are clearly killing it. However, the creature becomes more erratic in behavior. One scientists, Katerina Schiff find its eggs, discovering the creature to be female. A more ambitious scientist, Dr. Joseph convinces the team to take the eggs back to Germany, over the protest of Mordecai and Schiff, to prove their discovery (secretly wanting the glory). This ultimately sets up the climax of the film, where Gorwal follows the team back to Germany, and travels in land all the way to Germany. The most iconic scene is Gorwal wrecking destruction over Berlin. It is only when a new experimental "oxydizer" is deployed, is Gorwal finally destroyed. Though Dr. Mordecai warns that "this is not the end...."
At the time of its release, critics accused the film of exploiting the imagery of the atomic bombing of Nuremberg and Frankfurt. The destruction of those cities by American forces to force German surrender was still fresh in the minds of the Germans during the production of Gorwal. Indeed, the Berlin scene is very reminiscent of the atomic destruction in Nuremberg, and the images of survivors and their struggle over the years. The suicide of Dr. Joseph upon witnessing the destruction of Berlin is a somewhat obvious call back to Hitler's suicide upon hearing of the atomic destruction of Frankfurt. The fact Germany had bourne personal witness to the destructive powers of nuclear weapons gave it a unique perspective. Gorwal is shown in a sympathetic light, suffering from radiation burns and driven mad by the scientists stealing her eggs. She is destroyed only because her continued presence was on the verge of destroying her own eggs (the hatchlings would later become the subject of Children of Gorwal), leaving no hope of peaceful resolution.
German audiences took to the film, and watched the films in droves. Despite a very negative review in Cahiers du Cinema, it was brought over to the United States, and dubbed, retaining the same name. It became a worldwide success. It also was the first West German film to be sent over officially to East Italy and Communist Austria. It has spawn off a whole franchise (with the most recent films including the 1998 remake by Japanese director Hideki Anno, and a most recent German incarnation in 2007), and indeed a whole genre, which retains fans to this day.
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