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Destiny is a silent German Expressionist film from 1921 that follows the story of a young woman on a quest to save her fiancé from Death himself. The movie was directed by Fritz Lang, who was later known for his works such as Metropolis and M. The plot begins as the young couple, Marie and her fiancé, Hans, are enjoying a day in the park. Death, who is portrayed as a cloaked figure with a skull-like face, appears and takes Hans away, leaving Marie in a state of shock and despair. She becomes determined to follow Death to the underworld and plead for her lover's return.

Marie's journey begins as she seeks out a way to reach the underworld, encountering several obstacles along the way. She seeks help from a sorcerer, who tells her that she must find three candles that can bring her to the underworld. She is then told that she must light the candles at the stroke of midnight and make her wish before they burn out.

Her journey takes her to three different towns, where she meets three different people who each possess one of the candles. In each town, she must complete a task to obtain the candle, which are all located in dangerous or difficult-to-reach locations.

Throughout her journey, Marie is pursued by Death himself. He appears in different forms and tries to thwart her efforts to reach the underworld. However, Marie remains determined and eventually succeeds in obtaining all three candles.

As she reaches the underworld, she is brought before the king and queen of the dead. They grant her request to bring Hans back to life, but with one caveat - she must choose someone else to take his place in the underworld. Marie must then make a heartbreaking decision to sacrifice someone else's life for Hans.

Destiny is known for its use of intricate set designs and unique special effects, such as the portrayal of Death as a skeletal figure. The film is also noted for its exploration of themes such as death, sacrifice, and the power of love.

The actors give strong performances, with Lil Dagover delivering a powerful portrayal of a woman determined to save the man she loves. Bernhard Goetzke gives a chilling performance as Death, lending an air of tension to the film's already suspenseful plot.

The film's cinematography is also notable, with its use of shadows and lighting adding to the unsettling atmosphere of the underworld. The score, while not originally included in the film, has been added in later adaptations and enhances the mood of the movie.

Overall, Destiny is a haunting and beautiful film that showcases Fritz Lang's skillful direction and the artistry of German Expressionist cinema. The film's exploration of universal themes, combined with its stunning visuals, make it a timeless classic that still resonates with audiences today.

Destiny is a 1921 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.