This special screening invites you to time-travel back 100 years, to an era before sound films, and experience a “new yet nostalgic” form of cinema brought to life through live narration and music.

In Japan at that time, films were accompanied by katsudō benshi - narrators who explained scenes and spoke dialogue for the characters - together with live musical performances. This unique style, combining images, music, and storytelling as one, developed independently in Japan, rooted in its rich traditions of spoken performance such as rakugo, kōdan, and jōruri. While it never took hold in the West, this art form survived in Japan as katsuben, and has been passed down to the present day.

At this screening, you can experience this rare cultural tradition, brought to life by the narration of renowned benshi Ichirō Kataoka and the live accompaniment of Colored Monotone, a music ensemble specializing in silent film scores.

In Hanoi, these masterpieces from a century ago will once again shine on screen.

As director Hiroshi Inagaki once said: “There was never a silent era in Japanese cinema.”

Now, that spirit breathes anew. Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the art of storytelling through cinema.

🎥 Event Details

📅 Tuesday, October 14, 2025

🕕 Doors open: 18:00 / Show starts: 19:00

📍 Dong Da Cultural Center (Hanoi)

22 P. Đặng Tiến Đông, Trung Liệt, Đống Đa, Hà Nội

🎟 Tickets: 500,000 VND (VAT included)

General Admission (Unreserved Seating)

Please note: Children under 13 will not be admitted.

Screenings:

I Was Born, But…

The Adventurer (Charlie Chaplin)