Metropolis

 Film studies Section A

 

Gold rush

Vertigo

2001: A space odyssey

 

Early 20^th century German expressionist art movement that emphasised the artist’s inner feelings or ideas over replicating reality, and was characterised by simplified shapes, bright colours and gestural marks or brush strokes

German expressionism is a particular style that first appeared in poetry and theatre around 1910. It became popular in film 10 years later after WW1. 

It comes partly from German Romanticism and gives a subjective view of the world.

Expressionists had little interest in their work being aesthetically pleasing. This style flourished after the horrors of WW1, and the inevitable economic devastation that followed.

The first few films that can be described as pure German expressionism include The Cabinet of Dr Caligari and Metropolis.

 

o   High angles

o   Deep shadows/chiaroscuro lighting

o   Extreme camera tilting

o   Impossible sets

 

When considering the real-life scenarios at the time in Germany, it’s no wonder they got as dark as they did.

German expressionism in film is associated with high contrasts of darks and lights to convey onightmarish sets often using the chiaroscuro techniques.

Lotte Eisner film critic, labelled it “helldunkel” which she defined as “A sort of twighlight of the German soul, expressing itself in shadowy, enigmatic interiors, or in misty, insubstantial landscapes

 

 

Metropolis

Fritz Lang was an Austrian-German-American film director, screenwriter, and occasional film producer and actor, he was one of the key people who graduated from Germany’s school of Expressionism. He was dubbed the ‘Master Of Darkness” by the British Film Institute.

Lang’s most celebrated films include the groundbreaking futuristic Metropolis

 

o   Images of slavery

o   Rich vs poor (Claude-Levi Strauss’ Binary Opposites theory)

o   Dark/dismal scenes (chiaroscuro)

o   Hyperinflation benefits rich and screws over poor

o   Emotional Angst and Social Critique

o   Futurism

o   Similarities to western cities like New York or Chicago

 

1.     

§  Metropolis contains scenes of slavery-like work as Germans try to fix the issues of hyperinflation, in a very dystopian manner

§  The rich people are presented as being more benefitted by the hyperinflation as the poor work harder to be completely underpaid. This can be presented through the binary opposites theory as rich vs poor being evil vs hero

 

 

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§  The film and image are very similar as it is a picture of poor German slaves overworking for low wage

 

 

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1.     Lang creates a desire of capitalism by relating metropolis to modern cities such as New York. The wealth is desired as the futuristic city was built using exploitation, power, corruption and greed. He uses iconography to show Germany on its way to modernism

2.     (3) The iconography is juxtaposed to the religious inequalities as the film explores the delights of modern cities but also the the religious and social problems that took place under beneath the surface. 

3.     Lang’s predictions for Germany’s future were extremely hopeful as Lang was inspired by already existing cities, and the idea of capitalism is explored stylistically. People are shown as dispensable through the costumes they are wearing, whereas others are shown as important/wealthy. Lang’s vision was inspired by the conflict in Germany and how he wanted the country to grow and modernise. Lang was inspired by the existing corruption and inequality in public as the film explores all of those problems through an array of clothing, items, and mise-en-scene. Lang’s predictions were also pessimistic as it showed that the people in Germany belonged below everyone else as the poor had to work hard to build up the city while rich could capitalise on that, as this was before World War 2 when the west and east were divided. Metropolis also predicted a dictator, who own most of metropolis. The idea of capitalism makes people look amazing and provides a gloss on society, where you can forget about the ugly side of life however capitalism is a trap people still struggle and that society may be more divided with capitalism. The film shows the intent of the privileged youth Freder discovers the horrific scenes of how their beautiful city is ran beneath by slavery, where his goal becomes helping the sad workers. He befriends his teacher Maria however this doesn’t help his goal as it put him at greater odds against with his authoritative father, which leads to much more conflict. There are vices where life is based on other peoples luxuries.

4.     In this scene, a man is seen trying to put a clock forward, which shows that the man is hopeful for the future of Germany as he wants to rush from the present day into their future instead of having a pessimistic view of the future the man wanted to see what the future held for him, whether it was good or bad he was ready. The uprising of workers showed hope for the future as Germany’s inequality in society was decreasing as capitalism was growing. The film shows how a beautiful and modern utopian city is portrayed above a hellhole of a city of mistreated workers, a city of grey and desolate ghettoes located far below the domain of the rich utopian city.

 

1.     The hierarchy are represented as the rich utopians living above the sad and poverty struck city below, where the workers are merely represented as slaves working for the higher powers on higher grounds. This could represent the capitalist world as workers work for little money, but it makes owners more rich and powerful, capitalism is shown as poor working for the rich and not earning nearly enough as what showed be owed. Metropolis counters the idea of positivity on capitalism however it is shown as being extremely unworthy because people don’t earn what they work for, however it also backs up capitalism as it shows what a wonderful and beautiful world can be created in capitalism.