Modern composer, historic film
Elana Kats-Chernin has composed music for the classic 1930 silent film “People on Sunday” to be presented at the NSW State Library in Sydney next month.
Elena Kats-Chernin
“A tale of five young Berliners – a taxi driver, a travelling wine dealer, a record-shop sales girl, a film extra and a model – spending a typical Sunday. In this vivid snapshot of Berlin life, a trip to the countryside reveals the flirtations, rivalries, jealousies, and petty irritations common to any group outing. All too soon it is the end of the day, and the prospect of Monday looms, and the return of weekday routine.
Considered one of the most important works of the German film Avant- Garde of its time, and a huge influence on the French New Wave and Italian Neorealist movements, People on Sunday also marked the start of the film careers of six cinéastes who would go on to great international success: Billy Wilder, Robert and Curt Siodmak, Edgar G Ulmer, Eugen Schüfftan and Fred Zinnemann.”
“People on Sunday was something almost entirely new, a blend of feature and documentary. It announced itself as ‘a film without actors’: the five principals are all amateurs, who actually worked in the jobs described in the film: taxi driver, music shop assistant, wine 
salesman, film extra, mannequin. Very little happens – a commonplace matter of casual flirtations on a Sunday expedition to the countryside – but its honesty and quietly ironic observation lend the film a timeless, universal appeal.” BFI
Sydney: State Library NSW- Dixson Room- People on Sunday(1930) 73 minutes with soundtrack. Sunday at 2pm April 14 Internationally acclaimed Elena Kats-Chernin composed a soundtrack for this silent classic. Prior to the film presentation Elena will play some of the music from the soundtrack and speak about the music from the film.
The film with soundtrack will follow the prefatory talk and performance. Tickets $40/$35 at the website Buy Tickets banner home page right hand side.
Composer Elena Kats-Chernin received the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day 2019 Honours List.
