**Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau** (1888-1931) was one of the most influential directors of German silent cinema and a key figure of Expressionism. His career is characterized by unprecedented stylistic and technical innovation.

Among his most celebrated films is **Nosferatu** (1922), a horror masterpiece that defined the vampire's imagery. This was followed by **Der letzte Mann** (The Last Laugh, 1924), revolutionary for its use of the "unchained camera" (entfesselte Kamera) and the almost complete absence of intertitles, relying entirely on visual narration.

After moving to Hollywood, he directed **Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans** (1927), which won the first Academy Award for "Unique and Artistic Production".

Murnau's style is distinctive for its profound visual storytelling, the dramatic use of light and shadow to evoke atmospheres and moods, and his ability to explore characters' psychology through camera movement and image composition. He died prematurely, leaving an indelible legacy in the history of cinema.