PERFORMANCE artist Georgina Starr’s captivating 40-minute film is an homage to the now largely-forgotten silent movie star Theda Bara.
It’s rarely shown, so was a bit of a coup for Bournemouth’s Arts By the Sea Festival to get Starr along for the UK premiere – more so that renowned German soprano Sigune von Osten was there to accompany the film live, both by voice and with a variety of sound effects.
Starr was inspired to make the film after seeing an old photograph of a woman who looked uncannily like her mother. It turned out to be Theda, most of whose 40 films are now lost or destroyed.
She certainly brings Theda to life by reimagining some of her work, capturing an air of fragility and vulnerability, yet often using humour to bring the silent goddess to life.
It was a strange, challenging experience, but that’s art isn’t it?
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