The Art of the Benshi | 2024 tour trailer

In turn-of-the-century Japan, benshi  interpreted cinema through performance and music, bringing life to a film's story and  characters through a craft handed down over generations. This is why silent film was so big. This is why audiences were enthralled. More than the stars on the screen, it was the benshi who pulled people in. This April is your chance to have this  transformative experience in person. The Art of the Benshi world tour offers a remarkable look into  the cinematic phenomenon enjoyed a century ago. Watch 18 classic silent films in six separate  programs with live music and English subtitles presented in a style rarely seen since the 1930s.  For almost a century no one has had a chance to see benshi like this. There are thousands and  thousands of people coming in to see these films because it's just mesmerizing. Allow these artistic masters to reinvent silent cinema for you. This year's venues include treasured theaters across the U.S. and Tokyo. Presented by the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities.