Greed/Metropolis
In the last scene, a bworker goes up to Fredersen, smiling and welcoming. The blue collar worker is ready to make change and to have a better relationship with his superior. Fredersen, however, seems cold and anxious and does not reciprocate the worker’s positive attitude. He is still afraid of change. Freder has to physically pull them together as the self-proclaimed mediator. This ending shows hope for the future, but still depicts the upper class as cold and cowardly without outside help. Fredersen still does not genuinely care about his workers. He resolves in the end to regain his work force with motivation from the love of his son.
The film’s message is ambiguous. On the one hand, it provides hope for the potential of a mediatory force, like Freder and Maria. On the other hand, Fredersen’s reluctance to accept mediation leaves such a positive outcome anything but assured.