“‘Metropolis’ is one of the great achievements of the silent era, a work so audacious in its vision and so angry in its message that it is, if anything, more powerful today than when it was made […] ‘Metropolis’ does what many great films do, creating a time, place and characters so striking that they become part of our arsenal of images for imagining the world”
DOORS: 19:30 | FILM STARTS: 20:00
Bristol Cathedral hosts an atmospheric screening of Fritz’s Lang’s seminal silent film Metropolis, restored to almost its original length, on Wednesday 9th March. Join us after dusk in this magnificent building to watch this piece of cinema history come to life. The film will be accompanied by a live, entirely improvised organ recital by the award-winning composer Dr. David Bednall, blending silent cinema with live music to create a unique performance that promises to bring the film to life in a dramatic new interpretation.
Lang’s pioneering dystopian sci-fi epic has become a pop culture milestone, influencing countless films, artists and musicians over the years. After decades of the original cut believed lost forever, a negative print of the original was discovered in an Argentinian museum in 2008. This extra 25 minutes of footage has been painstakingly recovered and almost completely restored, meaning that we can present the film almost as it would have been originally viewed at its premiere.
Please note that there will be a 20 minute interval during this screening
About The Film
1927 | PG | 150 mins
In the futuristic city of Metropolis, the wealthy and the successful live in luxurious skyscrapers while the workers toil beneath the surface to operate the machines that keep the city functioning. When the heir to the city Freder follows the beautiful Maria back to the lower levels of the city, his experiences set in motion a chain of events that will lead to a major clash between the two factions of Metropolis.
About The Location
Founded in 1140 as an Augustinian Abbey, Bristol Cathedral is one of England’s greatest medieval churches. Its Chapter House and Abbey Gatehouse date from c. 1260, and the Cathedral’s East End is considered to be one of the finest examples of medieval ‘hall church’.
Music is central to the life of the Cathedral, and its organ dates back to 1685 - only undergoing its first complete restoration in 1989. The Cathedral’s ongoing Organ Renovation Project aims to ensure that this magnificent instrument exists at the heart of the building for years to come. Find out more here.
About The Organist
David Bednall is recognized as one of the leading choral composers of his generation. He studied for a PhD in Composition with Professor John Pickard at the University of Bristol and is signed to Oxford University Press. He has an extensive freelance career as a performer as well as being Sub Organist at Bristol Cathedral. He studied with Dr. Naji Hakim and David Briggs and was Assistant Organist at Wells Cathedral.
Arrival Drinks
We will be operating a bar selling snacks and drinks at this venue.
Beat the rush and order an arrival drink to collect before you take your seat - simply select your chosen beverage from the options below.
See This Venue
Watch The Official Trailer
TICKETS
More Information
• Bristol Cathedral is located on College Green in Bristol City Centre.
• The venue is close to several bus routes. The nearest train station is Bristol Temple Meads.
• Wherever possible, we encourage walking or using public transport to travel to our events.
• Public parking is available at Millennium Square and on St George's Street, behind the council buildings. See map for more detailed information. For a full accessibility report see the Disabled GO site for more information.
.
• If you are a wheelchair user, please contact us in advance so that we can arrange a suitable seating space.
• There is a disabled toilet which is located in the cloister, next to the cafe. If you are a wheelchair user and wish to access the toilet you need to go back outside the Cathedral, under the arch of the Cathedral Gatehouse building and up the driveway into the Cloister car park, and in through the large wooden door in the corner.
•We want to make your visit as enjoyable as possible, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you require further information about this venue’s accessibility.
• We cannot guarantee access before the stated doors time on your ticket, so advise you arrive as close to this time as possible.
• Please do not consume hot food at this event.