Metropolis – with live musical accompaniment from Palooka 5

Bridport Arts Centre

This science fiction classic is one of the greatest films of the silent era: a dystopian vision of a future city where workers toil like machines to sustain the pleasure-seeking elite.

Freder, the wealthy son of a city master, and Maria (the iconic Brigitte Helm), spiritual leader to the workers, attempt to heal a divided society. But inventor Rotswang’s transformation of a robot into Maria’s doppelganger stirs violent revolution – and created one of the most memorable sequences in cinema history.

Few films look as extraordinary as Metropolis, with its Expressionist designs that combine Bauhaus, Cubist, Futurist and Art Deco influences. And, in turn, few films have been as influential. It shaped the look of science fiction classics from Frankenstein (1931) to Blade Runner (1982) to The Matrix (1999) as well as the work of musicians and designers including David Bowie, Beyoncé, Jeff Mills and Karl Lagerfeld.

Metropolis will be accompanied live by Palooka 5, playing 1960s-tinged ‘sci-fi surf music’: think B52s/Joe Meek with a ‘bad vibrations’ modern twist. Signed to the Spinout Nuggets record label, their three LPs and 45rpm EP have received spins from BBC Radio 6 Music DJs Gideon Coe, Tom Robinson and Deb Grant. To support their autumn live dates, Palooka 5 will be releasing the album MetroKino on vinyl LP, CD and download through Spinout Nuggets.

Germany 1927. Director Fritz Lang. With Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel, Gustav Fröhlich. 83 mins. PG
NB Palooka 5 will be accompanying the 83 minute, 1984 re-release version of the film.

+ The Impossible Voyage with live DJ soundtrack from Lee Grimshaw
France, 1904. Director Georges Méliès. 20 mins

Friday 10 October at 7.30pm

Ticket Prices from £15.00 to £17.00

Tickets available from Bridport Tourist Information Centre, Bridport Town Hall, South Street DT6 3LF. Tel: 01308 424901 or www.bridport-arts.com