The Hippodrome at Bo'ness Presents Häxan (1922)

An enthralling mix of documentary and fiction, this early horror film explores the history of witchcraft from its earliest days through to present (in this case 1922 when the film was first released). It shows representations of evil in a variety of ancient and medieval artworks, offers vignettes illustrating a number of superstitious practices, demonology, and satanism, and presents a spine-chilling narrative about the persecution of a woman accused of witchcraft.

Performing Live: Jane Gardner (piano) and Hazel Morrison (percussion)
Dir. Benjamin Christensen | Sweden | (1922) | N/C 15 | 122mins | Danish with English intertitles
With: Benjamin Christensen, Elisabeth Christensend and Maren Pedersen
Screening material courtesy of Svensk Filmindustri

Jane Gardner & Hazel Morrison
An acclaimed composer and pianist, Jane Gardner has delighted many silent cinema audiences with her original and sympathetic accompaniments. She has performed at HippFest since 2012 with percussionist Hazel Morrison, including acclaimed accompaniment for The Black Pirate, The Goose Woman, Earth, Filibus, Seven Footprints to Satan, and our Saturday morning Jeely Jar screenings for families. Jane was commissioned by HippFest with funds from the PRS for a live tour of Dragnet Girl which screened in venues across Scotland.

Image © AB Svensk Filmindustri