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Silent Films at the Kimbell


If you're looking for something cool to do besides lie around your house on the weekend, check out the Lone Star Film Society's Silent Sundays at the Kimbell's new Piano Pavilion auditorium.

While silent films seem like a hard sell, you can expect a unique experience as you watch history's first films that shaped the industry with the accompaniment of live music. Way Down East will screen 2 p.m. March 16, Strike plays 2 p.m. Sunday, April 20, and first ever Academy Award for best picture, Wings, plays 2 p.m. May 18.

I'm a little late in the game writing about this—the series kicked off Feb. 16. Their first production F. W. Murnau's "cinematic masterpiece" Sunrise had an unexpectedly large turnout. Classical pianist Robert Edwards performed his interpretation of the film live as the audience went back in time. After all, this is how moviegoers experienced film in the 1920s. And if they saw the same film three times, there may be a different musician and interpretation each time, LSFS director Alec Jhangiani said.

Without the distraction of the sometimes overstimulating dialogue and sound effects, one moviegoer said he could really experience the visual aspect more acutely. Hopefully I will see you March 16!

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