Editing, Sound, and the Emotional Architecture of Film
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)
Directed by F.W. Murnau
A landmark of silent cinema, Sunrise demonstrates how editing, camera movement, and musical rhythm can express emotion without spoken dialogue. The film externalizes the inner lives of its characters through montage and visual flow, offering a powerful example of how rhythm and structure alone can carry emotional meaning.
Tuesday, January 13 · 7:30 PM (PT) · Live on Zoom
Our opening session explores how filmmakers use editing and sound to shape what we feel—often more powerfully than plot or dialogue. Through close attention to rhythm, silence, musical structure, and sonic detail, we’ll look at how cinema guides perception, builds tension, and gives emotional form to inner states.
This discussion focuses on the viewer’s experience: how films direct attention, structure emotion, and create meaning through craft.
The Conversation
(1974)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Winner of the Palme d’Or (Cannes Film Festival, 1974)
A modern classic that places sound editing at the center of its narrative, The Conversation builds paranoia and ambiguity through fragmented recordings, misheard details, and shifting perspectives. The film draws us into the unstable perceptions of its protagonist, revealing how sound can distort meaning and deepen psychological immersion.
M (1931)
Directed by Fritz Lang
One of the earliest and most influential sound films, M uses silence, offscreen sound, and repetition to generate psychological tension and moral unease. Lang’s precise control of sound design shows how audio can define space, shape character, and create dread as forcefully as visual imagery.
Where to Watch
Many of our series films can be viewed for free via the Public Library apps, Hoopla or Kanopy.
Popular subscriptions, such as Amazon Prime, YouTube Premium, and Netflix, also provide streaming options.
Here are options for viewing the films in Session One:
As always, feel free to reach out with any questions!