| Tallinn 2011- European Capital of Culture |
Reaching cinematographic soundtracks and sound in general is one of the major topics of project Silent Pictures Go Loud.
There were six evenings full of surprising solutions about how we sense a movie when the sound is somewhat unexpected or not known as it is presented there. Unlike many other music and silent film events, we try to keep movie as it is, we do not remix, we will compliment. Unlike many other film events where live music meets silent pictures, we make emphasis on playing with genres and styles and reveal that genres have no limits at all in expressing all emotions, values, characters and events shown on screen.
One of the greatest events of film history was inventing the way to add sound to the pictures. Silent pictures became loud and clear. Still, there is a certain value, a certain charm that goes with silent pictures as they reveal only a vision but chasing and changing the sound of them can actually change a whole lot about film`s concept, sense and understanding exactly like sound editor does to nowadays films.
The presentation of the Japanese Benshi narration culture which has never been introduced in Estonia before and now the context of "Silent Pictures Go Loud" gives it a perfect opportunity. Benshi culture and films demonstrate and give a look not only to its specific tradition and customs but also reveal great deal a lot more about such Japanese traditions as Kabuki theatre, samurai tradition, Japanese movie industry in general etc.
Yuko Saito entered the Himawari Theatre Group in May 1981. After promotion to the Performance Department, she took part in a national tour, appearing on stage in Chiisai Majo (starring role), etc. She made an appearance in the mass media through her participation in "NHK BS Premap new foreign dramas" in 1981. After leaving the Himawari Theatre Group in 1988, she worked as an assistant in mizugei (water show) and wazuma (traditional magic) performances and toured various countries as a guest performer with the Kageboushi Theatrical Company. In 2001, Saito became a student of Sawato Midori and started her performances as a benshi. She performs in various genres from animated films like Norakuro, to period dramas like Kurama Tengu by making the most of her experiences as a theatrical performer. She regularly performs at house boat live events in Shinagawa-juku. In July 2007, she performed katsuben at Osians Cinefan - 9th Festival of Asian & Arab Cinema held in New Delhi, India.
