Metropolis by Fritz Lang

Synopsis:

At the time of its release, Metropolis was the highest budget film ever produced by UFA. It is by far the most influential film in movie history. It employed techniques never used before to create effects that remain impressive even to a modern day viewer.

One of the original 1926 posters.
Source:http://www.moviegoods.com/movie_product_static.asp?master_movie_id=10337&sku=433585

Metropolis is set in the landscape of a futuristic dystopia. The society of their world is divided into two major classes, the Thinkers, the elite and powerful upper class and The Workers, the deprived lower class. Freder is the son of the 'Master of Metropolis', Joh Fredersen. He lives a well to do and care free life until one day Maria, an educated young woman from the City of the Workers, takes the Workers's children up to the Eternal Garden in order for them to witness to carefree life that can only be enjoyed by the children of the Thinkers. Freder is immedidiately drawn to Maria. Shortly after, Freder embarks on a journey to the City of Workers to witness the horror that is the reality of the Workers. While there, he attends a gathering lead by Maria. Shortly after this gathering, the twisted affair between Maria and Freder begins.

Upon discovering Maria's rebellious act, Fredersen decides to visit the scientist Rotwang who was working on a robot that could replace man. Fredersen urges Rotwang to make the robot in the likeness of Maria, in order to deter any further deviancy from the Workers. In order to do this, Rotwang must kidnap Maria. The Robot prompts the workers to rebel violently, rather than peacefully, as Maria had urged them to. Because of this, revolution breaks out amongst the workers and the Metropolis falls into chaos.

Relation to the Topic: Stillness.

The film itself seems like a majestic piece in early cinema history. Even though the scenes in themselves are full of movement, the upper world of the Metropolis appears as a fixture that will never be moved. This evokes a sense of stillness which conrasts greatly with the movement that goes on in the City of the Workers below.

Camera Movement:

For its time, the camera movement employed in Metropolis was seen as extremely advance. Most directors traditionally employed the use of fixed camera positions or very few. Metropolis on the other hand, made use of various angles wich were barely used prior to the film's creation.

Bibliography:

FOR THE LOVE OF FILM (NOIR) BLOGATHON: METROPOLIS (1927)—Onstage Interview With Eddie Muller, Paula Félix-Didier and Fernando Martín Peña-

http://theeveningclass.blogspot.com/2011/02/for-love-of-film-noir-blogathon.html
(Accessed 27.10.2013)

Fritz Lang: Behind the scene with a Master Science Fiction Filmmaker-

 

 

http://www.fanboy.com/2010/02/fritz-lang.html
(Accessed 27.10.2013)

Metropolis: The 2001 Restored version with Original Musical Score- 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j92E9J8uafc
(Accessed 27.10.13)