Die Buchse — Der Pandora

G.W. Pabst’s 1929 silent film Die Büchse der Pandora (Pandora's Box) features Louise Brooks in her iconic role as Lulu, a magnetic character whose chaotic life leads to a dramatic downfall in a gritty, proto-noir narrative. Based on Frank Wedekind's plays, the film follows her descent from a scandalous marriage to a tragic encounter with Jack the Ripper, highlighting themes of sexual autonomy and societal hypocrisy. A restored, acclaimed version of this landmark, often-censored film is available through the Criterion Collection, with in-depth analysis from the San Francisco Silent Film Festival .