metropolis envy

Although I didn't actually make it through Metropolis the first time I tried (the score had a similar effect on me as the one in Erasorhead...), and am in no way purporting to be any kind of film afficionado, the fact that new scenes from this classic silent movie have surfaced (mysteriously in Buenos Aires no less...) does rather excite me. Metropolis has a mystique attached to it that involves much more than the actual movie. It is a product of a very specific time and place (1927 Berlin - during the relatively stable period of Weimar Germany), and is heavy with themes of class struggle and (my personal favourites) amazing futuristic feats of engineering, industry, and fashion! This restored and now 30 minute longer version is going to be screened for the first time (since its premier 83 years ago) in its 'spiritual' home of Berlin, accompanied by a 12 piece orchestra playing the original score. It's a shame I'm not getting into town until July... I somehow doubt it will be popular enough to sustain its release...

I read about this in Der Spiegel (and stole their pictures)

love in a time of socialism

lately I have been reading a lot about Germany - particularlyBerlin - after WWII but prior to the wall coming down in 1989. I began this modern history exploration mainly because of my planned Berlin sabbatical next year, but have since been sucked in completely to this fascinating period in history, specifically to this city of contradictions (which I think may suit me quite well)...

These images are particularly fascinating to me, even though I had heard about a thriving underground arts scene during the GDR years, these images really bring the rawness and underground nature of the time to the fore!

The photographer - Olaf Martens (who does not like to be compared to Helmut Newton) says that "in regards to sexuality, the GDR was completely immoral, especially if judged by Western standards". I can believe it... There is a fantastic element of almost fatalism to these images.

I found these images as well as a fascinating interview with Olaf Martens on Der Spiegel

bunker down

Call me a brutalist - I don't care!

Absolutely loving this converted 1942 WWII bunker in Berlin which is now a home/art space. More from the REALARCHITECTUR website here (via Cyana Trend Land).