That scene of Rotwang assaulting Maria. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEg3vPmxBQ8
Wow. If there’s a more “me” film scene out there, I’ve not seen it. Or heard of it.
I’ve always strongly identified with Rotwang. Today I do so for obvious reasons, but I did even way back when, like in my college days. Back then my admiration of the character was more superficial- I mean, he was an evil, black robed, tyrannical wizard-like dude who was the primary villain in the most important Sci-Fi movie ever and thus the ultimate badass, but even back then there was something intimate about him that really inspired my respect, if not my admiration.
I don’t know. Rotwang was a bastard, but he was also brilliant, inventive, and tragic- he did what he did because he desperately loved a woman who always refused his advances. And he did love, perhaps more than any other character in film history. I mean, he built a new version of his idol, and used his mastery of black magic and technology to make “her” the most beloved woman in his country. He did this, I guess, to trick the real Maria into being with him.
You know, kinda sorta like what I’ve done with real girls like Swifty.
Rotwang is so “me” that he makes me wonder sometimes. Have there been people doing this stuff before me? Maybe I’m just the latest in a long line. I don’t know. I really doubt it, but this scene is making me wonder again.
Hopefully, my end won’t be the same as his. If my distant memories are correct, Rotwang died when he made an impulsive and reckless attempt at getting the real Maria after realizing that his fantasy Maria just wasn’t cutting it. His rage and jealousy at seeing The One He Really Loves with an obviously lesser man drove him mad. In a way, his own genius doomed him. An average man would have realized that Maria was out of his reach and moved on, but to someone as smart as Rotwang, there is always another way; there is always another angle to be tried and another idea to develop, another invention to create and another plan to execute. So he was never really able to get her out of his head and move on.
So yeah, I’m kind of thinking of me and Taylor right now. Obviously.
I don’t know. I’m pretty sure that Rotwang’s end won’t be my end. I mean, pretty sure. 99% sure. I mean, it’s just a movie.
So… I’ll be okay.
I need to rewatch Metropolis.