TUESDAY, APRIL 11 AT 7:00 PM

at La Maison Française - Embassy of France

4101 Reservoir Road, NW - Washington, DC

FREE ADMISSION

Parking available on Reservoir Road and across the street at Georgetown University Hospital's pay lot.

SECURITY RULES: A reservation on Eventbrite is mandatory, attendees must have a Government issued photo ID in order to enter the Embassy. Large backpacks and bikes will not be allowed inside the embassy.

NO ONE WILL BE ADMITTED WITHOUT RESERVATION OR PROPER ID

Name on reservation must match ID.

Due to strict security measures, please allow extra time for security screening; doors will be closed at 7 p.m. sharp.

WINGS / LES AILES BY WILLIAM WELLMAN
Black&White - Silent - 1927 - USA - 144 min

In English

As part of the celebrations of the Centennial of American involvement into World War I, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy present the screening of the 1927 silent film Wings by William Wellman, with live music by Prima Vista Quartet. Wings won the first Academy Award for Best Picture.

Directed by William Wellman, 1927
B&W. 144 mins. DCP. Silent

Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in the Meuse, William Wellman’s epic masterpiece is the story of two men who enlist to join allied troops in France and the girl they’ve left behind. Featuring thrilling aerial battle scenes and breathtaking camera work, this tale of friendship and love, rivalry and heroism stars screen siren Clara Bow alongside Richard Arlen, Charles “Buddy” Rogers, and the legendary Gary Cooper in a cameo appearance.

A mix of melodrama and grand spectacle, "Wings" is the last great film of the silent era. The prowess of the fight scenes and spectacular aerial choreography give this story a genuine epic scope.

The beautifully restored film will be accompanied by a live performance by France's acclaimed Prima Vista Quartet and guest musicians. They will perform a score composed by the group's violist Baudime Jam. The quartet, who first performed at la Maison Française in 2005, is renowned for their live accompaniment to silent films.

With over 2000 performances to its credit, the Prima Vista Quartet has become a benchmark in the world of film concerts (silent films musical accompaniment) of which it explores repertoires as diverse as slapstick, expressionism, social realism, historical melodrama, swashbuckler, cartoon, and documentary, while visiting horizons as different as French, American, German, Russian and Chinese films.

Musicians:

Elzbieta Gladys: violin 1

Amélie Paradis
: violin 2

Baudime Jam
: viola and composer

Ladislav Szathmary
: cello

Matthias Champon: trumpet

Cédric Barbier: percussions

Online registration is required for this free admission event.

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This screening by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States is made possible through the generous support from TV5 Monde and the French-American Cultural Foundation and is part of the World War I Centennial celebrations.

The film concert «Wings» has been endorsed by the World War I Centennial Commission (WWICC), established by the U.S. Congress, as an official project of the World War I commemoration. This project is furthering the WWICC’s goals of educating the American people about the causes, courses and consequences of World War I, commemorating U.S. involvement in that war, and honoring the service and sacrifice of American servicemen and women in the war.