7th International Silent Film Festival Experience Part 1

The 7th International Silent FilmFestival at the Shang Cineplex showed just six films, each accompanied by a music act providing a live score. With each of the films having only one screening, it comes as no surprise that this has become one of the hottest ticket items in the local film festival circuit. And along with it comes what has become a staple in the festival in recent years: numerous complaints from people who weren’t able to let in inside the cinemas.

This has posed a problem for some of the films, especially those accompanied by music acts with a dedicated fanbase who couldn’t pass the chance to see their idols perform free of charge. The system of distributing tickets has also become a source of confusion as one had to make reservations for every film that they wanted to watch. And this didn’t sit well with walk in audience members who felt that they lined up for nothing. But for those who were fortunate enough to see the films, they were in for a rare treat of seeing silent films from a bygone era accompanied by local music acts who were either seasoned performers or one of those up and coming bands.

Keisatsukan

The festival started with the Japanese film, Keisatsukan, courtesy of the Japan Foundation, Manila. It is a police procedure film released in 1933 and directed by Tomu Uchida. It felt like Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment but from the perspective of the policeman Itami (Isamu Kosugi) who is trying to solve a crime which was actually committed by his childhood best friend Tetsuo (Eiji Nakano). The flashback scenes recalling their teenage years felt a bit too homoerotic for a serious film such as this. And it was amusing to read propaganda heralding the virtues of police officers in Japan towards the end since no one probably expected that to be inserted at all in the film. It made me wonder if that was the norm in Japan back then. A young band Pulso composed of Robby M on guitar, Matt W on bass and Franco M on drums accompanied the film. They did a decent job in capturing the film noir mood but their music didn’t have much variation to suit the film fully. The tempo mostly had a very steady pulse (pardon the pun) only going on double time occasionally. But they’re still a young band and the music that I’ve heard would be great if I were in a live gig.

Franco M from Pulso

La Grazia

The Aldo de Benedetti directed La Grazia from Italy, presented by the Embassy of Italy, premiered back in 1929. As much as I wanted to see this film and hear the music of Sinosikat?, my schedule didn’t allow me to see it. But I managed to get inside the theater and listen to the music at the sidelines. I was able to hear strains of the music from the band that featured some string solos, played via a keyboard, which made me wish that they’ve actual string players in the lineup for a sound with depth and more organic.

Ich möchte kein Mann sein

The Goethe-Institut presented the shortest film in the festival, the 45 minute comedy Ich möchte kein Mann sein. This film from Germany, directed by Ernst Lubitsch was first shown in 1918, and therefore offered a glimpse of pre-war Berlin. The music for this film was composed by Pierre Oser and the Composers’ Lab fully utilizing a small ensemble made up of the piano, violin, cello, clarinet and the trombone. It was a delight hearing the music that was tailor made for the film but also giving each instrument a chance to shine. The mood, feel and the lightness of the film were emphasized through the use of music. Composers’ Lab’s output usually ventured into avant garde territory which not everyone can appreciate, but for this film, they stepped back in time, almost 100 years ago to try to recreate the music style back then.

Silent Film Festival organizers hanging out in the sidelines

I was disappointed that I had to miss one film again this year and it coincidentally had to be the one that was accompanied by Sinosikat? as well. In order to ease my disappointment, I capped the night by joining the festival organizers and some of the musicians for some drinks over at Brotzeit which was the caterer during the opening night cocktails.

7th International Silent Film Festival Experience Part 2