JP/19/BUSTER

JP/19/BUSTER

pakai logo JIFFEST
Buster Keaton silent films brought to life in JiFFest

M. Taufiqurrahman
The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Three films from the man whose "stone face" showed every
emotion from joy to despair, comic genius Buster Keaton, feature
in this week's promotional program for the Jakarta International
Film Festival (JiFFest).

The silent films, The General (1927), The Cameraman (1928) and
Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928) will be accompanied by a full-blown
orchestra playing music that jazz performer Dwiki Dharmawan, film
score composer Thoersi Argeswara and businessman-cum-pianist Jaya
Suprana composed by re-interpreting the films' original scores.

The event will take place from Dec. 2 to Dec. 4 in the Atrium
of Plaza Senayan in Central Jakarta.

In the program, the films will first be screened in their
entirety along with their original scores before an orchestra
takes the stage, playing the new scores to accompany a second
screening of the films.

In between the concerts, a workshop on composing music for
films will be held with Thoersi as a speaker.

The event is among promotional activities being held
ahead of Jiffest, which opens on Dec. 9.

Keaton, who was once called "the most silent of film
comedians" and was a highly gifted director, appeared in 121
films and directed 48.

Known for his trademark deadpan expression, porkpie hat and
slapshoes, Keaton was set apart from other silent clowns by his
artistic control.

The General, considered the greatest civil-war film of all
time remains the most famous of all silent films.

Set during the American civil-war of the 1860s, The General,
directed by Keaton, contains the most expensive single shot of
the entire silent era in which a steam engine falls into a river
after a connecting bridge collapses.

The film, however, suffered at the box office.

The Cameraman, Keaton's first film for Metro Goldwyn Mayer
(MGM) studio was one of the best comedies ever made.

Steamboat Bill Jr., the last of Keaton's independent works for
producer Joseph Schenck, has been considered the funniest film
ever produced by the actor.

The performance of the new musical scores is much anticipated
as the composers are three of the country's most talented
musicians.

Thoersi, a graduate from a California-based film school has
composed original scores for some of the country's award-winning
films such as Pasir Berbisik (The Whispering Sand), Gie and
Eliana, Eliana.

Dwiki, a seasoned musician of the progressive jazz outfit
Krakatau, has been composing scores for TV soap operas
(sinetron).

Suprana, owner of Jamu Jago, top producer of traditional
Javanese herbs, is a classically trained musicians who has
performed extensively both here and abroad.

in-box (abu2)

Screening schedule

Dec. 2 The Cameraman

5 p.m. film and original score
7 p.m. film and live music score by Dwiki Dharmawan

Dec. 3 Steamboat Bill Jr.

1 p.m. film and original score
3 p.m. film and original score
5 p.m. workshop on composing music for fil
7 p.m. film and live music score by Thoersi Argeswara

Dec. 4 The General

1 p.m. film and original score
3 p.m. film and live music score by Jaya Suprana
5 p.m. film and live music score by Jaya Suprana
7 p.m. film and original score