Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau treats the contrast between city and countryside in both "Sunrise" (1927) and in "City girl" (1930).
In "Sunrise" he clearly chooses the side of the countryside, which is pure while the city is decadent. In the first half "City girl" seems to represent the same message. Look for example to the scene where slicing a homemade whole grain bread (countryside) is compared to measly slices of white bread rolling out of a machine (city). In the second half things turn out to be less clear. The bargirl who had married a farmer is on the countryside at least equally bothered with unwanted sexual advances by seasonal workers as she was in the city by guests of the bar.
"City girl" was clearly a source of inspiration for Terrence Malick in making "Days of heaven" (1978). Elements such as the harvest threatened by natural elements and sexual tensions between members of the farming family and seasonal workers recur in this film.
In "Sunrise" he clearly chooses the side of the countryside, which is pure while the city is decadent. In the first half "City girl" seems to represent the same message. Look for example to the scene where slicing a homemade whole grain bread (countryside) is compared to measly slices of white bread rolling out of a machine (city). In the second half things turn out to be less clear. The bargirl who had married a farmer is on the countryside at least equally bothered with unwanted sexual advances by seasonal workers as she was in the city by guests of the bar.
"City girl" was clearly a source of inspiration for Terrence Malick in making "Days of heaven" (1978). Elements such as the harvest threatened by natural elements and sexual tensions between members of the farming family and seasonal workers recur in this film.