Cine-concert Steamboat Bill, Jr.

Directed in 1928 by Charles Reisner, Steamboat Bill, Jr. is an exceptional example of Buster Keaton’s talent for physical comedy and stunts. The story follows William Canfield Jr. (Buster Keaton), a frail and awkward young man who returns to his hometown to join his father’s business—a stern steamboat captain. His father, Steamboat Bill Sr., is disappointed in his son, whom he sees as unfit for life on the river. Things become even more complicated when Bill Jr. falls in love with the daughter of his father's rival, sparking a series of comic conflicts. The climax of the film features one of the most iconic scenes in silent film history: during a devastating hurricane, the façade of a building collapses onto Keaton, who miraculously escapes unharmed thanks to a perfectly positioned open window. This scene was performed without any special effects.

The film will be accompanied live by pianist John Sweeney, who has been composing for and performing live accompaniment to silent films for nearly thirty years. Originally from New Zealand, Sweeney now lives in London. In the UK, he has performed live scores for silent films at venues such as Riverside Studio Cinemas, the National Film Theatre, Nottingham Broadway, and the Barbican Centre. Internationally, he has appeared at prestigious festivals including Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna and Le Giornate del Cinema Muto in Pordenone, Italy, as well as at film events in Austria, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia.

The TIFF.24 cine-concerts are made possible with the support of MOL Romania.