Silent Movie with Live Score: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Special thanks to the Sunshine Coast Film Society for its patronage of this event!

Step into the shadowed streets of early cinema when The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) comes to the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons for a rare big-screen presentation. Widely regarded as a cornerstone of German Expressionism, Robert Wiene’s landmark silent film remains as unsettling and hypnotic today as it was a century ago. Its jagged sets, warped perspectives, and fever-dream narrative usher audiences into a world where madness, authority, and fate blur into a single, unforgettable vision.

This special screening is elevated by a live, original score composed and performed in real time by acclaimed cellist Lori Goldston. Known for her adventurous musical voice and evocative collaborations across genres, Goldston’s solo cello score breathes new life into the film’s eerie landscapes, responding moment by moment to its psychological tension and visual invention. The result is a fully immersive experience that bridges silent-era artistry with contemporary musical expression.

Presented in the intimate setting of the Heritage Playhouse, this event offers audiences a chance to encounter Caligari not as a museum piece, but as a living work of art—immediate, visceral, and alive with sound. Whether you are a longtime cinephile or discovering silent cinema for the first time, this is an evening of film and music not to be missed.