Directed by Fritz LangMetropolis is easily one of the greatest films of all time. Filmed in Germany in the interwar period, the film explores class issues in a capitalist society. Rather than embracing a marxist view of class struggle, the film promotes a non-violent, mediatory approach. It's also the most expensive silent film ever made.
The opening quote recalls Plato's Republic where the "head rules the belly through the chest" or the Aristocracy rule the masses through the army. Lang instead opens with "The Mediator between the Head and the Hands must be the Heart."
When the heir to Metropolis - Freder - encounters a working class woman - Maria - who shows him the workers' children and calls them his brothers, Freder is both smitten and intrigued. He searchers for here and encounters the terrible working conditions. From that point on he seeks to find a peaceful unity between the two. He is opposed by his fathers minions and by the mad scientist Rotwang who kidnaps Maria and makes a "Machine Man" in her image, who he uses to turn the workers against Freder's father.
With stunning effects (even today after all those years - there were phenomenal for the time), brilliant acting (you understand what the characters say despite the silence) and some straight up weird SF stuff make this just a wonderful film.
Everyone should see this.
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