“Der Golem” is a classic silent horror film from Germany, released in 1920. Directed by Paul Wegener and Carl Boese, the film tells the story of a rabbi in medieval Prague who creates a creature from clay to defend the Jewish community against persecution. The film is often interpreted as a commentary on anti-Semitism and the persecution of the Jewish community in Europe. 

The creature, known as the Golem, is brought to life through a magical amulet and is initially obedient to the rabbi’s commands. However, as the Golem becomes more powerful and uncontrollable, the rabbi must find a way to deactivate it before it causes harm.

It seemed more than appropriate to use segments of this powerful and emblematic movie as its story resonates so well with the theme of the fashion show “Visceral Instinct”: the innate, automatic responses of the body to certain stimuli that are critical to survival.