The Sound Of Silent Movies

Silent cinema is the antithesis of almost any movie experience to be had today. Instead of enjoying 3D technology that makes you feel like you're right in the thick of the action, you're forced to imagine the sounds of these places and voices of the characters. Instead of viewing brilliant colour images that have been perfectly lit and composed, you're struggling with sometimes dull and flickering black-and-white images of bygone eras.

Yet precisely for these reasons, cinephiles have been flocking to silent movie screenings to experience a time warp. Coming up soon is the epic Indian romance Shiraz: A Tale of Romance. The 1928 film directed by Franz Osten is based on the true story of 17th-century Mughal ruler Shah Jahan who commissioned the building of the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife, the queen Mumtaz Mahal. The film has been beautifully restored and newly scored by famous sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar.

Shiraz: A Tale of Romance will be screened on Sun, Sept 2, 5.30pm, Gallery Theatre, National Museum Singapore. Tickets from Sistic.