People on Sunday is a black-and-white silent film released in 1930. It is a portrayal of Berlin's working-class population on a weekend day, with a storyline that follows the romantic relationships between five main characters, played by non-professional actors. The film's unique approach is its real-life scenarios that merge with the fiction of the storyline, which give it a semi-documentary effect.
The directing team consisted of Robert Siodmak, Edgar G. Ulmer, Fred Zinnemann, and Billy Wilder, who went on to become iconic figures in the filmmaking industry. People on Sunday can be considered a landmark project that laid the foundation for their future work.
The movie was shot quickly over several weekends, with a budget that was limited to 6,000 marks. Despite its low budget, the filmmakers managed to capture authentic and naturalistic scenes, both indoors and outdoors, with handheld cameras and simple lighting.
People on Sunday was praised for its innovative technique and fine-tuned editing, which made the film feel cohesive and fast-paced. Its depiction of ordinary people's lives within the dynamic urban landscape of Berlin offered a fresh perspective on the cinematic language of the time and influenced future filmmakers worldwide.
Overall, People on Sunday presents the daily rhythm of Berlin's populace during a period of economic crisis and cultural upheaval, blending romance, humour, and realism in an engaging and fascinating way.
