MANILA, Philippines – There was a time when people dressed to the nines to watch movies, when “going to the movies” was an event you really prepared for and got excited about.

Those were the days when watching a film was a social event and a totally different experience from the kind of passive viewing we’re used to in today’s cinemas.

But that era is about to make a comeback, if only for 4 days.

On August 24 to 27, Shangri-La Plaza, the Embassies of Spain and Japan and the Film Development Council of the Philippines are holding the 6^th International Silent Film Festival at the Shang Cineplex. 

It’s a rare treat being the only silent film festival in Asia and, by far, the mall’s shortest film festival. 

Films from 6 countries, music from 1

This year’s festival features a film each from the countries of the event’s 4 founding institutions: the Embassy of Italy, the Japan Foundation, the Goethe-Institut (Germany) and the Instituto Cervantes (Spain).

They will be joined by two new participating institutions: the Film Development Council of the Philippines and the Embassy of the United States of America.

But the Silent Film Festival isn’t just a throwback to gorgeously rough black-and-white film footage, theatrical acting and dialogue that you read instead of hear.

The organizers have spiced things up by inviting some of the most exciting Filipino bands to perform the film score live. After all, silent films were never really silent.

Way back when, silent films had always been shown with a live orchestra playing inside the cinema.

So expect to hear the reggae beats of Tropical Depression, the quirky instrumentals of Radioactive Sago Project, the soulful melodies of Sinosikat (and more) played inside the cinema, right in front of the audience.

How to reserve

Put together “only silent film fest in Asia,” “shortest film fest in Shangri-La Plaza” and “free admission” and you get “in demand.”

The only way to get tickets is to call up the embassy or institute of the film you want to watch to reserve seats.

30 minutes before the show starts, line up outside Cinema 2. Filmgoers without reservations can try their luck by waiting until 15 minutes before the film starts when unclaimed tickets are given out.  

On August 26, Wednesday, cineastes can attend “Art Talk” to learn about the history and art of silent cinema.

Guest speakers are Max Tessier, a French film critic, historian and artistic consultant for Cannes and our very own Raymond Red, legendary independent filmmaker whose two silent films are also part of the festival.

Not yet hooked? Maybe some words from some of the festival’s featured artists will convince you:

“Watching (a silent film) is an art form in itself. The audience participates in a totally different way. This is a very rare opportunity to learn about our cinematic heritage,” urges Raymond Red.

Radioactive Sago Project bassist Francis De Veyra adds, “It’s a concert and film-screening in one! It’s a different experience because people can actually talk and interact with the bands during the screening.”

Here are the silent films and bands you may still catch from today until Monday, August 27:

August 25, Saturday:

• “La Casa De La Troya” from Spain ft. Sinosikat and Ignacio Plaza | 3 PM

A young man dead-set on earning his law degree stays in a student dormitory and falls in love with a Galician girl. He decides to propose to her but must first face the wrath of her aunt who intends to destroy the relationship (running time: 162 minutes).

• “I was Born, but…” from Japan ft. Tropical Depression | 7 PM

This story explores the complex relationship between father and son. A little boy and his siblings are ecstatic about their family’s move to the suburbs, only to find out that their father only wanted to live near the director, his superior. The little boy becomes frustrated with his father’s inferiority complex, allowing us a peek into the complex role that pride and honor play in Japanese culture (running time: 91 minutes).

August 26 (Sunday)

• “La Signora Delle Camellie” from Italy ft. Garlic | 4 PM

Inspired by Alexander Dumas’s Camille, it is a love story between a courtesan or “kept” woman named Marguerite Gautier and a young man from the province named Armand Duval. The passion their love ignites is only equalled by the tragedy that soon follows (running time: 43 minutes).

• “Art Talk” with speakers Max Tessier & Raymond Red | 7 PM

Learn about the heritage of Silent Cinema and how this subtle art form began and developed from two established cineastes who are experienced in the critique and creation of silent films.

• “Eternity” & “Pelikula” from the Philippines ft. Diwa De Leon | 7:30 PM

“Eternity,” Raymond Red’s debut film, is set in an unheard of month in the year 2265 in a Philippine provincial town. There or not there, a man is trapped in a recurrent nightmare of bizarre proportions (running time: 25 minutes).

“Pelikula” is described by the festival’s booklet in 5 words: a short, sharp, formalistic shock (running time: 5 minutes).

August 27 (Monday)

• “Safety Last” from the United States of America ft. Radioactive Sago Project | 7 PM

Hailed as one of the great film comedies, this film stars Harold Lloyd, one of the silent film greats alongside Charlie Chaplin. In it, a store clerk organizes a contest to climb the walls of a tall building but circumstances force him to take on his own dare. One of its scenes, that of Lloyd holding on for dear life to the hands of a large clock outside a skyscraper is considered one of the great iconic images from the silent film era.

For ticket reservations, contact:

• Spain: 526-1482 loc. 115 | cultx2mni@cervantes.es
• Japan: 811-6155 to 58 | email@jfmo.org.ph
• Italy: 892-4531 loc. 143 | stage.manila@esteri.it
• Philippines: 817-0978 | kultur.programm@manila.goethe.org
• USA: 301-2556/2553 | Alenzuelarc@state.gov

– Rappler.com