Shimmering with the uplifting optimism that was post-depression Berlin in the 1920s, Berlin: Symphony of a Great City is a powerfully significant avant-garde documentary on many levels. Ironically poised for a Nazi takeover, the great city of Berlin is painted to be a burgeoning metropolis by artistic director Walter Ruttmann. Ruttman utilized new cinematic techniques and a stark, realistic approach to his grand subject matter: the city of Berlin and everything in it. Creating a musical rhythm with his masterful editing, the film weaves in and out of breathtaking slices of life and toil in this tremendous urban expanse, even including precious footage of then President Paul von Hindenburg. Berlin: Symphony of a Great City would have a lasting influence on filmmaking for generations, as well as leaving a deep imprint in the minds of those fortunate enough to view it.
