Pack a picnic and catch a silent movie

While we move forward through the effects of the Rena disaster on our community, there is some positive activity happening at the Mount through the arts. Over coming weekends a series of silent films are being shown at the top of Mt Drury by the Tauranga Film Society. It's open to the general public and all you need is enough puff to climb to the top.

The films start at 8pm on Saturdays October 22 and 29, and families are encouraged to arrive early for a picnic dinner beforehand. Admission is free, however a $5 donation is welcomed to assist with expenses. If it's wet or too windy the films will be postponed to following Saturdays. Updates will be posted on www.taurangafilm.blogspot.com

It's unfortunate that most people associate the words silent film with either Keystone Kops or crude melodramas with campy acting. Prepare yourself for a surprise with the silent films of Ernst Lubitsch. Beneath the surface of these romantic comedies there's plenty going on.

They all feature strong, independent women as the lead characters, rather than the passive creatures we usually expect. For example in I Don't Want to be a Man, Ossi is a strong-headed girl who smokes, gambles and drinks. After being reprimanded by her stern new guardian, she dons a dinner suit and heads out for a night on the town disguised as an eligible young bachelor.

For women of 1920s Germany, Ossi Oswalda (who played characters of the same name) became a national icon, as she reflected their own frustrations at society's restrictions. Feminist politics in 1920s silent film: who would have thought?

The other remarkable feature of these comedies is the sheer exuberance of the actor's performances. Their characters are driven by their primal desires and rather than coming across as camp, the performances have a rare energy seldom seen today. It's huge fun to watch.

Lubitsch enjoyed lampooning contemporary society and excesses of the rich. In The Oyster Princess, Oswalda is a spoilt heiress who impulsively decides to marry a prince with no delay! She and her father have their every whim indulged by literally hundreds of servants. In one hilarious scene, the wedding banquet looks like military manoeuvres as multiple divisions of waiters, wine stewards and cooks serve the guests.

All restraint was lost when Lubitsch parodied the military in The Wildcat. The setting is a snowy wilderness, with a remote military fort full of incompetent soldiers. When the handsome Lieutenant Alexis is transferred from the city to the fort, crowds of young ladies tearfully bid him farewell: "You have served us well." As evidence of his prowess, dozens of young children cry "Goodbye! Daddy!"

It's great slapstick fun, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a direct ancestor of Monty Python. Any film with a river of tears running through the snow must be something completely different.

So gather up the picnic basket, a rug and family and friends and enjoy!

For further information contact Neale at taurangafilm.blogspot.com.

Email: neale@eol.co.nz