Silent film, live jazz meld at Raue show

Imagine early 1920s Paris - a small, intimate theater plays host to new and avant-garde cinema, specifically, the silent surrealist films of the day.

The entire town seems to be present: the bourgeoisie, the big thinkers of the time, the aristocracy, and the escapists. They've all gathered to experience this cutting-edge art and later, will reconvene at the local cafes to discuss and debate the merits of the film, the actors, and the director.

"This show provides such a rare opportunity for jazz and film buffs alike - not to be missed!" Richard Kuranda, Executive Director.

Fast-forward 80 years.

Continuing this early French tradition, a similar scene plays out as The Hot Club of San Francisco presents Silent Surrealism, an evening of silent surrealist films with live gypsy jazz. The program includes several short silent films by Charlie Bowers such as "Now You Tell One" and "It's a Bird," as well as films by James Sibley Watson and Harold Shaw.

The Hot Club accompanies these films with the distinctive music made famous by Stephane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt, and the Hot Club de France.

Silent Surrealism is a brilliant multimedia trip back to a time when the artistic and literary style emerged as a means of expressing the imagination- when writers and filmmakers were more interested in the implications of words and images and providing the audience with the opportunity to vicariously experience the unknown or unimaginable.

Join The Hot Club of San Francisco - Silent Surrealism at 7 p.m. at Raue Center for the Arts, Crystal Lake. Tickets are $35/$32 and are on sale at www.rauecenter.org or by calling the Raue Center box office at (815) 356-9212.

This event is presented in cooperation with the San Francisco Silent Film Festival.