Within the framework of the 25th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, the screening of the film The Golem (or The Golem: How He Came into the World) took place on Friday, March 10th at 22:30 at Olympion theater. The film, which was screened as part of the tribute Adio kerida: From Thessaloniki to Auschwitz - 80 years was accompanied by a live original score by Yannis Veslemes with Giotis Paraskevaidis on guitar and bass.
The event was prefaced by the artistic director of the Festival, Orestis Andreadakis: " Today's screening idea, to give credit where it is due, does not belong to the Festival but to a very good friend of the Festival and an excellent professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki: George Antoniou, who reminded us that since we are hosting a tribute for the 80 years since the departure of the first train from Thessaloniki to Auschwitz, the Adio Querida, it would be a good idea to screen this film. A film based on one of the oldest myths of Jewish folklore and a precursor of German expressionism - one of the first, if not the first film in the history of cinema that warned of the danger of anti-Semitism. He reminded us that the snake's egg is ready to hatch at any moment. We thought to entrust an exceptional director and musician to write original music from scratch, to "dress up" this film and perform it live with us today. Of course, it is Yannis Veslemes," he said, giving the floor to Yannis Veslemes..
"Thank you for the invitation. Giotis Paraskevaidis will accompany me on guitar and bass. Together, we tried to scratch the surface of this film, which apart from its progressive character, is also a magical science fiction film with wizards and alchemists with a lot of humor. Those two usually don't go together, but I think this film manages to have humor, adventure, and suspense. That's kind of how we approached it too. It's not a film that's been outdone. Thank you very much and I hope you have a good time," he said. The screening of the film followed.
One of the first productions of the legendary UFA studios and a precursor to German expressionism, The Golem draws inspiration from a myth in Jewish folklore in order to warn of the danger of anti-Semitism. The film was screened as part of the tribute Adio kerida: From Thessaloniki to Auschwitz - 80 years, with which the 25th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival commemorates the city's Jewish community.
