Metropolis

Q: In Fritz Lang’s legendary silent film, Metropolis, the last intertitle (text card) reads
“The mediator between brain and hands must be the heart”.
Discuss the significance of this statement in regards to the film and the wider social implications.


A: The "brain" in the film is the Business/Upper class tier of the city. The "hands" is the working class.

In the film there is a very strong clash between the upper class and the workers. The workers are treated unfairly and taken advantage of while the upper class lives a live of luxury with no worries.

The mediator in the film is the son of the business leader. He represents the compromise between business and the workers. This could be "law" or "humans ability to empathize with one another".

This was a time when social regulations on upcoming industry were very little, so the social commentary is very important. This serves as a distopian story. It is a warning and example of what could be if the balance between these social classes becomes too unbalanced.