Concrete Playground

Going to the cinema used to be an occasion. People would get dressed up, they would save up, they would take their families, and they'd line up for double bills of cinematic entertainment. These were the days when cinema amazed, delighted and shocked.

Metropolis was just one of these masterpieces that amazed audiences. A dystopian, futuristic tale of a world where capitalism has isolated its workers, this early science fiction was made in the German Weimar Republic in 1927. An icon of the silent film era, the film was cut after its premiere, and for more than 80 years, there hasn't been the opportunity to see it in its original full length. Until now. In 2008, a 16mm negative turned up in Buenos Aires, complete with the missing 30 minutes of footage.

If you're a film fan, or can appreciate the important position that Metropolis takes in the cinematic canon, take advantage of this opportunity to see the restored version of this classic film, complete with the live score performed by the Sydney Symphony. It's been 80 years since this film has been shown, so there are few excuses good enough to miss this chance to restore cinema to the event that it once was.