democracy vs fascism

His revolutionary montage technique and films like 'Battleship Potemkin' directly explored collective power and state ideology as responses to authoritarianism.

His neo-realist works, particularly the 'War Trilogy,' examined fascism's rise, fall, and aftermath in Italy with unflinching moral clarity.

He confronted fascism's dehumanizing machinery in 'M' and 'Metropolis,' then directly fled Nazi Germany, making his entire body of work a testament to the theme.