Silent Film & Music: Protéa + Jarvis Cocker + guests

Josette Andriot stars as Protéa, one of cinema’s first female action heroes. Clever and elusive, she moves between identities as a society woman, thief, musician and lion tamer. With her accomplice L’Anguille (the Eel), she uses disguise and daring to outwit her enemies. Her striking black bodysuit appeared two years before Musidora made a similar look famous in Les Vampires.

Directed by Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset, one of the leading filmmakers at Éclair, Protéa is a landmark of early cinema. With a background in art, costume and set design, Jasset helped shape the ciné-roman, and explored new ways of framing and directing actors for the camera. Though often overlooked today, his inventive approach helped lay the foundations for the action serials that followed.