The most important silent film of all time | Cine-concert

Aurora (Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, 1927), directed by F.W. Murnau, is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of early cinema. The story follows a farmer (George O'Brien) who falls in love with a femme fatale from the city (Janet Gaynor), who convinces him to kill his wife. However, the film evolves into a profound meditation on love, remorse, and redemption. Its innovative visual style, profound use of light, and dynamic camera movements have influenced filmmaking for generations.

At the very first Academy Awards in 1929, Aurora won the Oscar for Best Unique and Artistic Picture, a one-time category that was never repeated. Actress Janet Gaynor also received the Oscar for Best Actress, and the film was awarded for Best Cinematography as well.

Aurora is the first American film by legendary German director F.W. Murnau. TIFF audiences have also had the chance to watch his other films during exceptional cine-concerts: Nosferatu, Faust, and Tabu: A Story of the South Seas.

The film will be accompanied live by pianist John Sweeney, who has been composing for and performing live music for silent films for nearly thirty years. Originally from New Zealand, Sweeney now lives in London. In the UK, he has performed live scores for silent films at Riverside Studio Cinemas, the National Film Theatre, Nottingham Broadway, and the Barbican Centre. Internationally, he has performed at prestigious festivals including Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna, Giornate del Cinema Muto in Pordenone, Italy, and at film events in Austria, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia.

Aurora will screen on Monday, June 16, at 18:00, at Cinema Dacia Mănăștur.