Blackmail (PG) + Intro Silent Film & Live Music

Explore the haunting re‑imagining of Hitchcockian suspense in **“Blackmail (PG) + Intro Silent Film & Live Music.”** A young woman’s naïve escape from a loveless policeman for a daring artist turns terrifying when the artist attempts to assault her in his studio, prompting her desperate act of self‑defense. The following day, the stakes grow as her former lover‑turned‑detective investigates, and a lurking blackmailer steps from the shadows. Presented in restored silent form, this film is enlivened by a groundbreaking original score written expressly by composer **Barbara De Biasi** to spotlight the protagonist’s experience and challenge the entrenched male gaze that has long dominated cinema. Experience the live production featuring the stellar ensemble: **Ruth Harrison** on flute, **Liz Drew** on clarinet, **Sarah Sesu** on bassoon, **Romana Szczepaniak** on violin, **Lucy Andrews** on cello, with **Dr. Peter Longworth** conducting **Sam Dinley** and a dynamic sound‑projection team. The program begins with an insightful talk by De Biasi on her PhD research into Hitchcock’s visual grammar and the pivotal, yet overlooked, role of music in shaping the male point of view. Join us for a night that fuses film history, feminist theory, and live sonic artistry—an unforgettable journey into the heart of a classic tragedy re‑explored through a fresh, female‑centric perspective.