Korea's oldest silent film revived

Cho Hee-bong, right, narrates "Crossroads of Youth", the oldest surviving film in Korea, during a screening with a live music performance at Ewha Centennial Hall, central Seoul, Saturday.
/ Courtesy of the Cultural Heritage Administration


By Kwon Mee-yoo

As the black and white film began rolling, a four-piece band - keyboard, violin, cello and piano accordion - played music and a narrator explained the first scene of the film "Crossroads of Youth" at Ewha Centennial Hall located in Jeong-dong, central Seoul, Saturday.

The silent film was revived with a modern twist after enormous effort from staff including a programmer, a director, a composer, musicians, singers and a narrator.

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