It’s a silent film, it’s a sci-fi, it’s a drama, it’s Metropolis: a silent film that is worth watching. Metropolis, directed by Fritz Lang, is a powerful silent film that grabs at the hearts of those watching and entertains with its fantastical futuristic backdrop. From the heart to the hands and everything in between, what makes this movie so powerful to the viewers is its sense of compassion.
Joh Frederson, played by Alfred Abel, is the man in charge. He is the one who created Metropolis and decided to separate the rich from the poor. His son, Freder (Gustav Fröhlich) is the typical rich boy completely unaware of the dark side of his father's work. Freder along with the other citizens of Metropolis live very frivolously, oblivious to the fact that underneath their feet is a whole other world. A world filled with poor, starving workers on the brink of death.
Now most movies have a love story, and Metropolis is no exception. Freder meets Maria, (Brigitte Helm) a woman from below, when she goes up into the city with a bunch of hungry kids to get the attention of the world above. This is where it is more than just a love story. Maria has opened Freder's eyes and heart. Joh had the rich and poor separated, working the poor to death so that the rich can live comfortable lives. When Freder finally sees how the other side lives he does everything he can to mediate the head (Joh) with the hands (the workers).
The movie was well acted. The mood of the scene could easily be seen with facial expressions. The music which played throughout, also helped in establishing the mood. The film's climax, where the underground is flooding, is even more intense with score. Overall, Metropolis is easy to keep up with and not hard to understand the message they are sending