Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1928)

This is the well-deserved first and only recipient of the "Unique and Artistic" Oscar.

Small-town family man gets involved with a city woman who wants him all to herself and devises an "accidental drowning" for his sweet wife. Rather than murdering his wife in the first hour of a bogus daytrip as he planned, they wind up spending the day together.

It's both charming and haunting. The imagery is astounding, dreamlike, and dizzying. Despite a weak first act and a predictable end, this is beautiful filmmaking. It's amazing what a bit of time and reflection can do -- I wonder how many divorces and other cruelties could be averted by simply attempting to love again.

B-