The President

Dazzlingly restored a few years ago, Dreyer's first feature is a typically sympathetic tale of female suffering, with a series of 'commoners' left pregnant and otherwise betrayed by rich, powerful patriarchs. The melodrama is heightened by a complex interlocking narrative, but what impress most are the elegant compositions, the simple but meticulously detailed sets, and the careful selection of non-professionals with the 'right' faces for minor roles and crowd scenes.

With live piano accompaniment by Stephen Horne on Thu 1 Mar and Costas Fotopoulos on Sat 3 Mar.