Berlin, die Sinfonie der Großstadt

Running time: 65'

Berlin, die Sinfonie der Großstadt / Berlin: Symphony of the Big City
Production: GER 1927

A silent movie from 1927. This film has been unanimously proclaimed to exemplify the expression of an new reality – a trend in art, aiming to explore true life. The creator of this production himself became a leading representative of the German avant-garde. “Berlin: Symphony of the Big City” is a vivid and furiously edited story about a past epoch, its customs and sensations. An interesting aspect of the film – quite innovative in those times – is the use of scenes of everyday life in Berlin secretly observed and shot. Numerous formal references to expressionism and avant-garde trends of the time can be discovered in this picture. 

 

 

 

Authors:

  • Walter Ruttmann

    Graduate painter and architect of the Universities of Zurich and Munich. Along with Hans Richter and Viking Eggeling he experimented with abstract filmmaking for some time. After 1925 Ruttmann decided to end his activities in this area, and directed his passion towards the exploration of film editing techniques. He is most famous for “Berlin: Symphony of a Big City” from 1927. Ruttmann later became part of the Nazi propaganda apparatus. He worked with Leni Riefenstahl, with whom he wrote the script to “Triumph of the Will.” He is also one of the cinematographers for “Metropolis” and “The Nibelungs” by Fritz Lang. Died in the battlefield during World War II, making a film chronicle about the western front. 

    Filmography:

    Lichtspiel Opus I-IV (1921-1925)     
    Der Sieger (1922)
    Das Wunder (1922)     
    Der Aufstieg (1926)
    Spiel der Wellen (1926)
    Berlin, die Sinfonie der Großstadt (1927)
    Dort, wo der Rhein… (1927)
    Deutscher Rundfunk (1928)
    Melodie der Welt (1929)
    Weekend (1930)
    In der Nacht(1931)
    Acciaio (1933)
    Triumph des Willens (1934)
    Im Dienste der Menschheit (1937)
    Deutsche Panzer (1940)
     

    read more

Screenings: