As part of the Cine-Concerts in Venice series, the Palazzetto Bru Zane will present Paris qui dort on November 13, 2025. Conceived by Marco Bellano, with pianist Gabriele Dal Santo providing arrangements and live accompaniment, the evening revives one of the most fascinating gems of early French cinema.
Paris qui dort (Paris Sleeping), directed in 1925 by René Clair, marks the debut of a filmmaker who would become a true pioneer of 20th-century cinema. The film begins with a science-fiction premise: a mysterious ray freezes Paris and its inhabitants, leaving only a handful of characters free to wander through a motionless city. From this starting point, Clair crafts a work that is equal parts surreal fantasy, light comedy, and subtle social satire. The sight of the Eiffel Tower rising over a silent, suspended Paris becomes the symbol of a dreamlike universe, both unsettling and playful.
In this cine-concert, Clair’s silent images enter into dialogue with the piano repertoire of French Romanticism. Dal Santo’s arrangements breathe fresh life into the film, bridging the gap between cinema and concert hall. The music does not merely accompany but amplifies the film’s poetic vision, underlining moments of humor, irony, and wonder.
Nearly a century after its premiere, Paris qui dort continues to captivate with its originality and charm. This performance offers audiences the chance to rediscover it in a new light: a timeless masterpiece reimagined through the living voice of music.
Website: www.bru-zane.com
Location: Palazzetto Bru Zane, Venice
Schedule: November 13, 2025
