Thursday, 28. March 2013
Femininity in Silent Film
Filmpodium, Zurich
www.filmpodium.ch
Simon Berz, Nicole Johänntgen (Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone), Michael Flury (Trombone), Christian Müller (Bass Clarinet, Live Electronics), Filomena Felley (Viola), Claudia Kühne (Cello), Andrea Martina Brunner (Harp, Live Electronics), Andreas Glauser (Live Electronics), Flo Stoffner (Guitar), Flo Götte (Bass, Guitar), Peter Conradin Zumthor (Drums, Percussion)
In the year 1911, two French officers adrift in the Sahara desert, discover the mythical realm of Atlantis which is ruled by the ageless and moody queen Antinéa. The queen has taken up the habit of using her prisoners as lovers until she’s had her fill of them. Those fallen out of grace she orders to be killed and embalmed in gold.
Jacques Feyder’s epic story, set during French colonialism and featuring the dancer Stacia Napierkowska in the role of the Saharan Loreley, initiated an entire tradition of exotic-romanticising portrayals of the colonial experience.
To accompany the film, Simon Berz has elaborated an improvisation template, which ten talented instrumentalists with varied backgrounds in jazz, classical and rock music will realise under his lead.
A co-production of Filmpodium, BADABUM and the Institute of Incoherent Cinematography (IOIC).