Thursday, 27. December 2012

Femininity in Silent Film

Filmpodium, Zurich
www.filmpodium.ch

20:45

Tim & Puma MINOU (Voice, Flute, Piano, Saxophone, Double Bass, Live Electronics)

Alla Nazimova: Opulence and Eccentricity

Like a true prima donna or celebrated dancer, Alla Nazimova omitted her first name already in her lifetime and appeared as Nazimova ‘tout court’ in the adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s play ‘Salomé’. Since pressure on the production company was increasing, she provided the idea for the film and produced and in part financed it herself. Moralisers saw it as a decadent and dangerous work, from which the public had to be protected at all cost. It took several years after its completion until the film was first shown; it was badly received and remained the last production of the free-spirited exotic Russian.

Setting it to music, the Swiss-Japanese electropop duo Tim & Puma Mimi (vocals, flute, DIY instruments, live electronics) and the jazz trio MINOU (vocals, keys, saxophone, double bass) join forces. The quintet produces a groovy sound that runs against the grain of established sound patterns and creates an opulent counterpart to the film.