Metropolis

The year is 2026, a Dickensian "best of times, worst of times," where total oppression and manipulation of the masses is wielded by the unquestionable power of the few.

Far below the City of Metropolis is the Underground City where machines are operated by the workers who live even further below. Day after day, in mechanical routine, they are forced to the limits of human endurance.

Fritz Lang made this film in 1926. Against his wishes the film was subsequently shortened for its American release which left the story disjointed, difficult to comprehend and caused the loss of many scenes, most of which have disappeared forever.

By following the original script, the novel of the film, recently discovered missing pieces of the film and photographs, Metropolis has been restored as close to its original conception as possible.

Metropolis is now presented with a contemporary score, sound effects and colour.

Lang once said: "To begin with I should say that I am a visual person. I experience with my eyes and never, or only rarely, with my ears - to my constant regret."

The shift change.

The Worker's City, far below the surface of the earth.

As deep as The Worker's City lay underground, so high above towered the City of Metropolis - and its stadium, built for the sons of the chosen few.

Other diversions were to be found in the Eternal Gardens Of Pleasure.

Freder!

Look, children, these are our brothers and sisters.

Who was that?

Only the daughter of some worker.

As mysteriously as she came so she vanished. In Freder's desperate search for her he came upon the threshold of an alien world.

To my father!

Joh Fredersen, The Master of Metropolis.

Father!

Why do we treat the workers so badly?

It was their hands that built Metropolis!

But where do the hands belong in your scheme?

In their proper place - The Depths!

The foreman is here.

More of these strange plans, Master!

They were found after the explosion.

Josaphat, why did you not know of these plans?

You're dismissed!

Keep my son under constant surveillance.

Josaphat, will you help me?

The machine!

I'll stay at the machine.

Let us trade our clothes and identities.

Go to this address!

Josaphat. 99. block. house No 7, 7th floor.

Tell Josaphat to wait for me.

Georgy takes Freder's car and hurries to Josaphat with the message.

Yoshiwara

But the beckoning lights of Yoshiwara's house of ill - repute prove to be a temptation too strong.

Josaphat anxiously awaits word from Freder in vain!

In the middle of the city, overlooked by time, stood a mysterious old house. Legend claims it was built by a master wizard.

Here lived Rotwang, the inventor, a man obsessed with the memory of a woman named Hel.

HEL

BORN TO BE MY JOY LOST TO JON FREDERSEN DIED IN GIVING BIRTH TO HIS SON FREDER

Joh Fredersen is here to see you.

The once close friendship between Fredersen and Rotwang had long since been impaired by their rivalry for Hel.

I have re-created her.

At last, my life's work is complete!

The robot is almost perfect.

All it is missing is a soul!

You're mistaken! It is better without one.

Can you decipher these plans?

Maria's called another meeting at the end of this shift.

Father, will these ten hours never end?

These are the plans of the Ancient Catacombs.