Fritz Lang - Metrópolis (1927)

Film: Metrópolis
By: Fritz Lang
Year: 1927 (Restored in 2010)

Metrópolis is a german-expressionist science-fiction silent film created in the 1920's by Fritz Lang. The film was created in Germany, and is set in a futuristic urban dystopia (which, shown within this film is a community or society which appears undesirable or frightening - e.g. the worker's city, the robot). The story is set in 2026 and follows a man named Freder, who appears to be the wealthy son of the city's ruler, and his encounter with a girl named Maria, as they try overcome to the separation between the citizens of their city.

A brief explanation of the story is that Metrópolis begins in a futuristic city, which is sharply divided between the lower working class, who are left to live in poor conditions, but are the main source used to create the basic force of power to the city's work, and the upper class, which mainly includes the city's 'thinkers', city planners and their families. From these different classes, two people fall in love with each other. Maria, who is a working class prophet who gives hope to the future of the workers, and during the film predicts the coming of a 'saviour' who will allow the city to live together as one and sort out the differences and treatment between the two classes, and therefore lead the city into a new era. The man she falls in love with, however, is the son the of the city's master and leader. Maria is kidnapped by an inventor, who wants to use her appearance (as she's the prophet) to create a robot. The robot is successful in receiving Maria's appearance and by orders of the inventor, seeks to create havoc within the city, making situations between thinkers and workers worse. Freder (the son) and Maria then need to come together to stop the robot and the inventor creating more problems within the city - which ends with the robot Maria being burnt at the stake. The film ends with the workers and thinkers joining hands and Metrópolis becoming a harmonious place.

I watched extracts of this film (as it's two hours long) to understand how it was brought together in a dramatic fashion. I think that sound is very important when it comes to creating emotion, so by creating emotion within a silent film is challenging within itself. However, I think it works, and creates a clear and effective narrative without the need of sound.

Even though the story is from the 1920's, it follows standard drama conventions we still follow as filmmakers today, such as having protagonists and antagonists, as well as the structure. The film clearly creates a 'story world' - a futuristic city in trouble as it's citizens are split into two classes. It creates truths within this world, similar to our own, in the idea of wanting to be equal, the idea of different social classes, and the rules of the city and the workers in general. This is important within all types of drama films, old or new, as it sets up a story, without rights and wrongs, the characters would be able to do anything and everything without any consequences, therefore a story wouldn't present itself. 

The characters within the work are also important. As mentioned before, we have two main protagonists: Freder and Maria, who, as I've watched throughout the film, fitted the parts perfectly. The costume design fits the theme and the character backgrounds - Maria appears in a simple dress, a light colour to represent her innocence, her goodness and therefore represents her also as a 'prophet', where Freder is dressed completely different to the workers, which therefore makes him stand out and immediately makes the audience feel that this character has more importance within the story or is somehow superior - in this case, the wealthy son of the city's master. The characters show good emotion and body language throughout which makes the story and their ordeal more believable to the audience - without this the audience would fail to sympathise with the characters and therefore lose interest in the story, as emotion is one of the most important features to capture within a drama film. 

It is known throughout the production of drama films, that the couple need to encounter a problem, some barrier or choice they must face in order to get what they want - in this film, this feature is clearly brought into the story by the crazy inventor who kidnaps Maria and creates a robot in her image - who then goes on to cause even more problems within the city, when Freder and Maria wanted to make the city and their people one. You could also argue the idea of the consequence of the two falling for each other, as their from two different social classes, is the fact that Freder's father goes behind his son's back to kidnap the girl, however the all details of the plan weren't shared between him and the inventor - who goes on to become one of the main antagonists. These factors all come together successfully to create the story world and the truths these characters live by. 

The set up of the piece is done quite cleverly. As the film begins, even with the title sequences, we are greeted with metallic colours, and then, industrial-style buildings, the style they are presented in however makes the piece look futuristic more than past-time industrial cities. This introduced to you straight away therefore the audience, or in my case, never feels lost in regard to the setting of the film. You instantly understand where you are and therefore are enticed to know why you are here and what the story of this world is. 

We're shown the workers being moved from city, to the worker's city, walking in strict lines, same foot forward, like they have no freedom. They have no space, no freedom. Nothing - and this instantly allows the audience to understand that these are the people in trouble, the poorer people who have no freedom within their city, and almost immediately creates empathy within the audience. 

A little later into the story we're introduced to the two main characters, showing Freder with his father and the later when he mets Maria with all the children. You see the two different worlds they live and the two different people come together from these two different backgrounds. As a 21st century viewer, you can see some controversy will occur between the two. It almost reminded me of Romeo & Juliet the two most wealthiest families in city who hated each other we're brought together through their children - in this instinct, it's two social classes being brought together by two young people who want to solve the problems between the city and end up in trouble - Maria being kidnapped and the inventor creating the robot. Both films end with the two opposing groups together, one happier than the other, however it presents the idea of love conquering all (in some ways), which creates emotion within the audience. 

The Drama Sections were clear throughout the piece. 

The SET UP, which I've discussed previously, was presented successfully. I understood the theme, the characters and the rules of the story world created within this work. 

The INCITING INCIDENT (a change in the daily routine) is the meeting of Freder and Maria. 

The PLOT POINT I/MID POINT is where they agree to meet at the church to discuss things.

THE PROBLEM, the father finds out and plans to kidnap Maria, but the inventor takes the plan further and uses her to create a robot that causes havoc within an already troubled city.

THE RESOLUTION the two classes come together to get rid of the robot and burn the false Maria and the stake. The two classes shake hands and live 'Happily Ever After...'

Overall, the film allows the conventions of drama films successfully. It creates emotion and empathy for the characters, anger towards the antagonist and happiness at the ending. There's a clear problem that occurs and the storyline successfully creates a resolution, which ultimately solves the original problem the main characters wanted to solve. To say this film was created in the late 1920's, it successfully creates a dramatic tension we'd expect in the 21st century, by using good actors, a twisting storyline and creating a story world which was clear and easy to understand throughout the film - therefore the audience are enticed throughout. I did enjoy the sections of this piece I managed to watch, I think the fact they've developed this standard of drama without sound is inspiring, and shows how many different key aspects can be used to create the right emotion throughout a work.