Silent Film With Live Piano Accompaniment Screened at P.S. 20 Friday

P.S. 20, also known as The Clinton Hill School, will hold a movie night this Friday, screening a classic film but with a modern, live twist. 

The oldest surviving animated film, "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" is a classic 1926 silent film inspired by a mix of tales from One Thousand and One Nights.

Filmmaker Lotte Reiniger created very elaborate silhouette cutouts and invented a silhouette animation technique similar to shadow puppets, but animated frame by frame. The film runs 65 minutes and is a very beautiful piece of art, suitable for children and adults alike.

P.S. 20 parent and internationally-known pianist Ursel Schlicht will accompany the film with an improvised soundscape on piano. Inspired by the magical scenes of the movie, she makes extensive use of the inside of the piano, manipulating the sound acoustically through cardboard, metal or glass objects. This also provides a commentary on the cardboard and lead sheet techniques Reiniger used for the film. 

P.S. 20 is located at 225 Adelphi St. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. and tickets cost $3, which includes the movie plus pizza, popcorn, and a drink.