Something old, something new
FROM THE late 1800s to the early 1900s, every movie in the world was silent. Very few of these movies still exist, most of them are gone for good, having been ravaged by time, war, and the elements.
The International Silent Film Festival Manila (ISFF Manila) — which was the first of its kind in Asia — has, for a decade now, been featuring these quite relics of a forgotten age and has been giving them sound. The films are scored live by local and, on occasion, foreign bands and acts during their screenings at the festival.
In a twist, it has also been featuring silent movies that have been made long after the advent of sound on the silver screen.
Now on its 11th year, the ISFFM will open on Thursday, Aug. 31, and run until Sunday, Sept. 3 at the Shang Cineplex of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City.
The festival will feature films from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Austria the United States, Japan, and the Philippines. The film screenings are open to the public on a firstcome, first-served basis.
THE FESTIVAL FILMS
The ISFFM opens on Aug. 31, 8 p.m., with a screening by Instituto Cervantes of Jose de Togores’ 1918 classic action/comedy El Golfo, a love story between a noble lady and a former pickpocket she helps send to school. The film will be accompanied by a live performance of rock band Talahib.
The second day will feature a screening of Anthony Asquith’s Underground. The film was restored by the British Film Institute after the discovery of an alternative print at the Brussels Cinematheque Royale. The movie, which dates back to 1928, “is a silent romance that reveals 1920s London life in the underground tube system,” a press release explains. Dub band Goodleaf will accompany the film, which is being presented by the British Council on Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Afterwards, French-Vietnamese harpist Heloise La Harpe, pianist Ryan Villamor, and percussionist Aldous Castro will provide the accompanying music for Marcel L’Herbier’s L’Inhumaine ( The New Enchantment) at 9:30 p.m. The story of love and deceit is presented by the Embassy of France to the Philippines.
Instrumental rock trio Tom’s Story will perform during the world premiere of FilipinoItalian director Ruben Maria Soriquez’ 2017 Una Famiglia Perfetta ( A Perfect Family) at 3 p.m. on Sept. 2. The experimental silent film is presented by the Philippine Italian Association and the Embassy of Italy.
In a very different performance, noted Japanese benshi or silent film narrator/actor/ storyteller Ichiro Kataoka will provide a live interpretation of the 1933 silent film Hijosen no Onna ( Dragnet Girl) — which is about life with the Yakuza in the 1930s — that same day at 5: 30 p.m. The Celso Espejo Rondalla, which plays Filipino music on traditional string instruments, accompanies the screening and narration. The film is presented by the Japan Foundation, Manila.
Meanwhile, Lourd de Veyra’s “stoner-metal quartet” Kapitan Kulam will perform during the screening of Gym Lumbera’s 2012 two-person drama about infidelity, Taglish, at 8 p.m. that day.
At 3 p.m. of the last day of the festival, the Embassy of Austria will screen Gustav Ucicky’s 1927 movie Café Elektric, the last film made and released by pioneer major film studio Sascha- Film. Starring Marlene Dietrich in a tale of love between the rich and poor, the film will be scored live by Rivermaya, one of the country’s most enduring bands.
At 5:30 p.m., Raymund Marasigan’s band Sandwich will perform along to George Wilhelm Pabst’s 1929 masterpiece Pandora’s Box which was based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial play. The film, screened by Goethe-Institut Philippinen, features Louise Brooks in this story about the Roaring ’20s.
The festival closes at 8 p. m. with a performance by the Flippin Soul Stompers of Clyde Bruckman performing for Buster Keaton’s 1926 comedy The General. The film, which is presented by the US Embassy, stars Keaton as an “ill-fated railroad engineer” during the American Civil War.
As part of the festival, there will be an exhibit at the mall’s Atrium with partner- organization Para sa Sining. Creative collaborators from this community will also present Musika x Pelikula, contemporary silent films created by their members, scored live by emerging Filipino artists at 2 p. m., 7: 15 p. m., and 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 3.
For details, visit the ISFFM Facebook page at Facebook. com/ InternationalSilentFilmFestivalManila. —