When sound fades, imagination speaks louder than ever.
Escobar, December 2025
Malba Puertos announced the return of its open-air silent film cycle, a cultural tradition that combines classic cinema with live musical performance. The programme, presented free of charge, will take place on three Saturday evenings throughout the summer and will feature restored masterpieces accompanied by musicians performing original or specially adapted soundtracks.
The cycle opens on 13 December with Sherlock Jr. (1924), one of Buster Keaton’s most celebrated works. The film’s inventive structure and physical comedy will be paired with a live score performed by Marcelo Moguilevsky and César Lerner, whose combination of winds, piano and percussion has been noted for its ability to accompany silent cinema with dynamic improvisation.
The second screening is scheduled for 17 January and will present Nosferatu (1922), the landmark expressionist film by F. W. Murnau. The screening will be supported by live music from Leo Sujatovich together with the Kapai duo, whose instrumentation is set to emphasise the film’s atmospheric tension and shadow-driven visual style.
The programme concludes on 21 February with Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush (1925). The film, one of the most iconic works of early cinema, will feature a live accompaniment by Marcelo Pablo Katz and Carolina Flechner. Organisers emphasised that the performance aims to preserve the emotional tone of Chaplin’s original composition while introducing contemporary elements suited to the open-air format.
Malba Puertos stated that the cycle is intended to provide broad cultural access and to create a shared space where audiences can rediscover foundational works of cinema. The open-air setting, combined with live music, forms part of an initiative designed to bring historical films to new viewers while maintaining the communal aspect that defined early moviegoing experiences.
Attendance is free, and seating will be available on a first-come basis. Organisers expect a strong turnout, noting the growing interest in silent film accompanied by live performance and the appeal of outdoor screenings during the summer months. They also highlighted that the event serves as a bridge between cinema, music and public space, reinforcing the role of cultural institutions in offering programming beyond their physical galleries.
With three films spanning comedy, horror and adventure, the cycle reflects the diversity of early cinema and the enduring influence of the directors whose work shaped the medium. Each screening offers audiences an opportunity to revisit the origins of visual storytelling through a contemporary lens, guided by musicians who reinterpret the films in real time.
As Malba Puertos prepares for the season, organisers reiterated that the purpose of the series is not only to showcase silent cinema but to activate a cultural encounter that blends history, artistry and collective experience. The return of the programme marks another step in expanding summer cultural activities in the region.
Phoenix24: facts that do not bend. / Phoenix24: hechos que no se doblan.