Great film director commemorated

Two events will be held at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta, on November 8 and 9 to celebrate the 150th anniversary since the birth of the famous French Film director Georges Méliès on December 8, 1861.

On November 8 at 6.30 p.m. there will be a conference in English presented by Tony Cassar Darien, followed by an open discussion.

Cassar Darien will highlight the role of Méliès in the history of cinema. Marie-Helen Lehérissey, great-granddaughter of Méliès, will then recount anecdotes and personal memories of her great-grandfather who was one of the most inventive and endearing creators of Septième art.

At the end of these interventions participants will be invited for a vin d’honneur at Café Fumia.

On November 9, a programme of films of Méliès will be presented in their original format, each of them being accompanied, as in the 1900s, by a pianist and a film commentary.

The texts will be recited by Marie-Helen Lehérissey in their French version of origin, as taken from Méliès, and by Teresa Friggieri in their English version.

The original musical compositions will be interpreted by Lawrence Lehérissey, great-great-grandson of Méliès.

The original spools of thefilms have been recovered, restored, conserved and edited thanks to the work of the association Les Amis de Georges Méliès.

The events are organised by the French Embassy and the Alliance Française de Malte-Méditerranée, in partnership with the Manoel.