Metropolis, the German classic silent film to be screened with live score

As part of the Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture and in partnership with Qatar Museums, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra and the Doha Film Institute will present a screening of the German timeless classic silent film ‘Metropolis’.

In 1927 director Fritz Lang released his science fiction masterpiece ‘Metropolis’, which will be screened at the Katara Opera House this month.

The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra will be accompanying the film with the original scores composed by Gottfried Huppertz. The film concert will be part of a larger screening series by Doha Film Institute called ‘A Symphony of Films’.

‘Metropolis’ has been known as the pioneering work in the science-fiction genre and belongs to the first feature length movies. The story takes place in the future, in the city of Metropolis, which is divided into two parts, the rich and powerful in the Upper Town and the slave-like workers who run their machinery in the Lower Town.

Johann Fredersen rules the city, claiming himself as its brain and those in the Lower Town as nothing more than mere ‘hands’ of the machinery. When Johann’s son, Freder, follows Maria, a young woman from Lower Town preaching the values of love and reconciliation, he unsuccessfully pleads with his father to improve the inhumane conditions he came to witness.

Johann, fearing a revolt, consults the inventor Rotwang to create a robot version of Maria, which would enable him to influence the workers as he pleased. Rotwang, a long-time rival of Johann’s, develops his own plan to use robot Maria to destroy the city instead. The interesting turn of events during the movie showcase the director’s visionary aim of bringing an innovative idea to real life.  

On the occasion of the upcoming screening, Dr. Gabriele Landwehr, General Manager of the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region said, “The 1927 classic fiction ‘Metropolis’ is a silent film that speaks a thousand words.” With Gottfried Huppertz´original score music played by Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, DFI is presenting an outstanding film and music experience to the Doha public.

The music plays an important part in the movie. The original score has been neglected over a long period of time and parts of it were considered lost. The film was not able to recover its production costs of 5 million Reichsmark at its release and had to face several cuts. Only after a lucky find in 2008 in Buenos Aires it was possible to restore the entire film. After the restoration, it was shown in its original form of two hours and twenty-five minutes, with the original score by Huppertz.

‘A Symphony of Films’ will conclude on Tuesday, September 26, with the screening of ‘Metropolis’. Tickets for the film concert can be purchased via the website of Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra: http://qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org

Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture is a year-long program designed to deepen understanding between nations through the mutual exchange of arts, culture, heritage and sport, developed by Qatar Museums in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region, the German Embassy in Doha and the Embassy of Qatar in Germany.