After much deliberation, I have decided to park the project on Bertolt Brecht's Fear and Misery of the Third Reich, as I was struck by an idea for a play. It will be inspired by Fritz Lang's Metropolis, the 1927 German expressionism film that "killed" the German film-making industry.
Metropolis, Fritz Lang's 1927 science-fiction masterpiece, is a film that brings to life a visually stunning, futuristic dystopia, addressing themes of class struggle, technological advancement, and human connection. Set in a sprawling city divided into two distinct classes—the wealthy elite who live above ground in luxurious towers and the oppressed working class who toil in underground factories—the story follows Freder, the son of the city’s mastermind, Joh Fredersen.
Freder leads a privileged life until he discovers the horrific conditions endured by the workers. He becomes captivated by Maria, a compassionate working-class woman preaching peace and unity, and joins her in seeking a solution. Meanwhile, Joh Fredersen consults a mad scientist named Rotwang, who creates a robotic doppelgänger of Maria to manipulate the workers and incite chaos, threatening to obliterate any hope of a peaceful resolution.
Lang’s film is notable for its pioneering special effects, massive sets, and ambitious art-deco aesthetic, which depict a world shaped by towering skyscrapers and complex machinery. The central message—"The mediator between the head and the hands must be the heart"—highlights the importance of empathy and unity in bridging divides within society.
Metropolis endures as a landmark in cinema, not only for its groundbreaking visuals but also for its timeless reflection on power, rebellion, and human spirit. The film’s themes resonate as deeply today as they did in the 1920s, making it a powerful subject for discussion among modern writers and creatives.
Metropolis, with its vast sets and two and half hour run time, cost the German film industry $200million, making it still one of the most expensive films of all time. Fritz Lang felt that scale and marvel was the only way to compete with Hollywood. The American film market, however, diced them film into several shorter films, ultimately diluting its effect on the audience. It was not a commercial success.
My play will adapt the narrative for the stage, taking inspiration from Steven Berkoff's TOTAL Theatre adaptations of Franz Kafka's works. I want the play to demonstrate the grand sets of the original motion picture, whilst exploring the idea of "staging the impossible." It will be very stylised.
My dream would be to direct a modern cinematic rendition of Metropolis.
Stay tuned for updates on how the writing process goes.
Meanwhile, you can watch Metropolis here.
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