The world of cinema is mysterious and enticing, and the opportunity to discover its secrets is all the more valuable. The Filmmuseum Düsseldorf reveals the secrets of the film industry. The first argument for coming here is that admission is free for children, and the second argument is that the museum's exhibits are really interesting, and even pre-schoolers will enjoy some of them.
Four floors are dedicated to the museum's collection. Each floor has a different theme. The first floor shows the luxury of the backstage area. Costumes from famous films, awards, posters, film posters and photos from film sets are on display, as well as film fragments. Children may first hear the names of actress Marlene Dietrich or director Akiro Kurosawa here, but when the time comes to see "The Song of Songs" or "Dreams", the seed will have fallen on the prepared ground.
Hofgarten is located 1.3 km from the museum. In nice weather, take a walk there with the whole family.
The first floor tells the story of the origins and development of cinema, from the first self-propelled pictures and magic lanterns to modern equipment. Surprisingly, special effects were already being created in the 17th century: in the Cinema Museum you can see the tricks of the masters of the past as well as modern computer technology. All the old equipment works to the amazement and delight of even the most demanding spectators.
There are also shadow theatre puppets from the 13th to 19th centuries, of which there are over 500 in the museum's collection. It is also fascinating to learn about the secrets of sound effects. The third floor is a film set. Here you will find everything you need to make a film: the cameras are ready, the lights are on, the wind machines and other equipment are in place — all you need to do is say "action".
And the fourth floor exhibition is all about the work that goes into making a film. Here you can see how a scenario is written, how storyboards are prepared, how an artist works on costumes and how sets are built. Another highlight of the museum is the Black Box Cinema Room, which recreates the atmosphere of the first cinemas. The 133-seat room shows old silent films to the accompaniment of a self-playing organ.
