Metropolis: A City Of Inspiration

Close your eyes and think for a moment. I want you to think about a movie that affected you. Not your favorite movie, not a movie that you put on repeat, not a guilty pleasure movie. I want you to think of a movie that made you want to do and be better. Whether this is at your craft, a hobby, or even just being a better person. 

For me there are a lot of movies that fall under this category, but I want to focus on one that hasn’t left the front of my mind since seeing it and that’s Frtiz Lang’s 1927 Masterpiece, Metropolis.

I don’t love throwing out the word Masterpiece. I also don’t like throwing out the word Masterclass. They’re two terms that are thrown around so frequently that it’s lost a lot of merit. However when it comes to Metropolis, this movie is both an overall Masterpiece and a Masterclass in innovation. You may be wondering, how can a silent film almost a hundred years old be a masterclass and a masterpiece? Where yes it is a product of it’s time if you were to look at it at face value (it’s a silent film set with beautiful orchestra, overacting, some sections of the film are missing due to time and displacement) but when you compare it to other films made during that time, it’s decades ahead of it’s time. Let’s start with story.

Credit: Universum Film

Credit: Universum Film

The story deals with the theme of the elite having control over the working class. At its core, it's a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked industrialization and social inequality. The film serves as a stark reminder of the dehumanizing effects of mass production and the exploitation of the working class by the ruling elite. And yes the theme is ahead of it’s time (not saying their aren’t films from the silent era that didn’t have complex themes. For example Buster Keaton’s The General and Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid were also ahead of their time in this department.) but it’s the way the story unfolded.

There were camera movements and layered complexities in the character that no one was doing back in the 20’s and the Production Design to this day is revered. Lang and his team created a cityscape that was unlike anything audiences had seen before. The towering skyscrapers, intricate machine designs, and sprawling urban landscapes were a testament to the film's groundbreaking special effects and production design. The use of miniatures, matte paintings, and pioneering techniques like the Schüfftan process (a combination of live action and miniatures), gave the film its awe-inspiring look.

The sets, designed by Erich Kettelhut, conveyed the stark divide between the upper and lower classes. The opulent, art-deco-inspired spaces inhabited by the wealthy elite contrasted sharply with the grim and dystopian underworld where the workers toiled tirelessly. This visual disparity underscored the film's social commentary, making it a powerful indictment of the class struggle of its time.

So now you may be thinking “ok cool. It’s ahead of it’s time. Neat. Why does a nearly three hour silent film have the effect on you?” For me Metropolis is the proof to keep moving forward. When I watched it I felt like I was back in film school again. Watching. Learning. Asking myself both why and how they did that.

There’s something special about seeing something that pushed and evolved cinema to a level like no other, and not just with fun camera tricks and props and production design. But with the heart of the film, the story is something that almost a hundred years later is still relevant.

Credit: Universum Film

Credit: Universum Film

For The Love Of Movies,

Jonathan Austin

Movies have a profound and lasting impact on people's lives because they possess a unique ability to connect on emotional, intellectual, and even spiritual levels. Through the art of storytelling, cinema has the power to transport us to different worlds, expose us to diverse perspectives, and evoke a wide range of emotions. Whether it's the laughter sparked by a comedy, the tears shed during a heart-wrenching drama, or the inspiration drawn from a hero's journey, movies tap into our innate human capacity for empathy and reflection. They enable us to see ourselves in the characters, to grapple with complex moral dilemmas, and to explore the depths of our own emotions. This transformative potential of cinema makes it not just a form of entertainment but a medium through which we can better understand ourselves, others, and the world around us, leaving an indelible mark on our hearts and minds.