Berlin: The Symphony Of A Great City (Berlin, Die Sinfonie Der Grosstadt)
attempts to capture the mood of the city during a typical day, beginning in the morning and ending at night. The film is a fascinating early attempt of cinema-verite, a “symphonic documentary” unfettered by overt political or social commentary. Freund's self-conscious camera had many faces; after sensitizing his film stock so that he might better film in poor lighting conditions, he hid his “candid camera” behind numerous disguises (mirrors, suitcases and the like). His effort to secure an unbiased visual record of modern Berlin is a studious delight.