Cabaret Film Analysis

Cabaret, directed by Bob Fosse, reveals a variety of stories to present the central theme of power. Through the employment of characters Maximilian Von Heune, Fritz Wendel, Natalia Landauer and The Emcee, Fosse establishes their distinct positions among society. The power of money is actively explored through Max’s role, while the influence of the Nazi party becomes progressively evident as the story of Fritz and Natalia is revealed. Equally, the Emcee’s omniscient role is employed to contrast fantasy and reality.

Fosse exposes the power of money through a variety of techniques to emphasise the key ideas of decadence and hedonism. Max’s character is employed to reveal how wealth possesses control over Sally Bowles and eventually Brian Roberts.
Although the Emcee is only perceived in the confinement of the Kit Kat Klub, he reflects and foreshows events that occur outside of the Klub. His power over the dancing girls is demonstrated through his actions on stage, groping and slapping their bodies. Reoccurring scenes of him winking, smiling and nodding are cleverly placed throughout the film to accentuate his role as an all knowing, all seeing character. The Emcee’s glamorous makeup and costuming further emphasises the illusion of the cabaret world. He interacts with the audience questioning “where are your troubles now? Forgotten! I told you so. We have no troubles here. Here life is beautiful.” Fosse also demonstrates the illusion of the Klub by using reverse shots to reveal the manager being beaten by Nazis. The vulgar and thrilling music of the Slapping Dance plays in the background, while the Kit Kat Klub remains ignorant to the events that take place outside. Similarly, The Goosestep Dance foreshadows the rise of the Nazi power; the dancers alter their costumes and begin marching across the stage. The beat of the music rises and the scene cuts to Natalia’s house where the Nazis graffiti her front yard and kill her dog. The final scene of the song depicts the Emcee walking off stage with a stick, which could be perceived to have a head on the end. The scene represents the power of the Nazis and how the Emcee
Max, Fritz, Natalia and the Emcee demonstrate how different forms of authority may rule over one another. Fosse utilises a diversity of film techniques to accentuate the major ideas of the text and expose the power of individual