Desire (1921 film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Desire (Sehnsucht)

| image = Desire (1921 film) poster.jpg

| caption = Poster

| director = F. W. Murnau

| producer =

| writer = Carl Heinz Jarosy

| screenplay =

| narrator =

| story =

| based_on =

| starring = {{ubl|Conrad Veidt|Gussy Holl}}

| music =

| cinematography = Carl Hoffmann

| editing =

| studio = Mosch-Film

| distributor = Lipow Film

| released = {{film date|1921|2||df=y}}

| runtime = 59 minutes

| country = Weimar Republic

| language = {{ubl|Silent film|German intertitles}}

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Desire ({{langx|de|Sehnsucht}}) is a 1921 silent film directed by F. W. Murnau and starring Conrad Veidt. It tells the story of a male dancer who falls in love with a grand duchess, only to be arrested, and his subsequent attempt to find the duchess.

{{As of|2020}}, it is believed to be a lost film as no prints are known to exist.{{cite web |url=http://silentera.com/PSFL/data/S/Sehnsucht1921.html |title=Progressive Silent Film List: Sehnsucht |accessdate=2008-11-04|work=Silent Era}} Robert Neppach worked as the film's art director.

Plot

A young student from Russia (Conrad Veidt) is studying (art or dancing, records of the film are unclear) in Geneva, Switzerland. He wants to go home for a visit, but has no funds. A group of Nihilists need someone to go to Russia for some plot (that plot is not clear, as the film has been lost). The student allows himself to be recruited as their agent, and he goes to Russia.

In Russia, the student meets a young, beautiful Grand Duchess (Gussy Holl), and they fall in love. The student attempts to complete his plot, but is arrested. After some time in prison, he escapes and begins searching for his lost lover. After some time, he discovers she died while he was in prison.{{cite book|last=Eisner|first=Lotte H.|title=Murnau|location=Berkeley, Calif.|publisher=University of California Press|date=1973|isbn=9780520022850|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lOgRKn07oMIC|page=130}}