Northern Silents: Metropolis

Experience the birth of the future at a one‑of‑a‑kind celebration of Fritz Lang’s legendary 1927 epic, **Metropolis**, in a fresh incarnation that marks its 100th anniversary. On 10 January 1927 the film premiered in Berlin, unveiling a towering vision of a city split between the privileged elite above and the laboring masses below—a vision that has rippled through cinema, design, and popular culture for an entire century. Though its initial release ended in bewilderment—half the film was cut from the original prints—history took a remarkable turn in 2008 when almost the entire missing 40‑minute swath was recovered from an attic in Argentina and painstakingly restored. This centenary moment is captured by a live-scored screening at Manchester’s Stoller Hall, where the talented Frame Ensemble—pianist Jonny Best, violinist Susannah Simmons, cellist Liz Hanks, and percussionist Trevor Bartlett—breathe new sonic life into each frame. The score is an improvisational journey; no two performances are alike. Each musician listens, feels, and responds to the moving images and the room’s own atmosphere, creating a singular experience where sound and image co‑exist in vivid, living harmony. Join us for an unforgettable immersion into cinema’s past, present, and future. Details and tickets are available online.