C3PO's mother? A restored version of Metropolis

The first droid I can consciously remember is C3PO. His angular movements, his clumsy way (how often does he get damaged in the movies?), and his golden shell have done it to me. Besides, he speaks all languages. Yes, I admit it: I want to have a droid of my own. They already know how to make iced tea, so there is hope.

Metropolis: A science fiction classic in a version thought lost

Back to the topic: Much later in my life, I realized where the inspiration probably came from. “Metropolis”, that epochal masterpiece of science fiction (1927), shows a similar droid – albeit female. And this specimen can even pose as a human and stir up the workers against the authorities. In this way, the work almost incidentally becomes a great tale of social justice – with the utopian vision of unity between head and hands.

What makes this so special is that large parts of the film were actually lost. Although the story could be reconstructed, the text on a black background, which tells you what you actually want to see, was not that great.

Actually. Because parts of the film that were long thought to be lost have now turned up again, and a restored version will be presented to the public for the first time tomorrow, Friday, February 12, 2010:

• for Berliners: be at the Brandenburg Gate in the evening. Just follow the crowd.
• for television owners: tune into Arte. 8:45 p.m.
• for everyone else: wait a little. The film will be released in cinemas in the fall and will be shown at various film festivals before then.

Film-historical significance: the ups and downs of a history of reception

“Metropolis” has provoked a wide range of reactions since its release. It was barely noticed by contemporary audiences and dismissed by critics as kitsch or attacked for its proto-fascist elements, today it is considered a masterpiece of its time. And a fascinating portrait of how director Fritz Lang envisioned the future.