Robin Baker, head curator at the BFI National Archive, introduces a screening of rare and revelatory silent films from the early 20th century, showing life in London and Beijing.

These films from the BFI National Archive, made between 1896 and 1939, provide a snapshot of life in London and Beijing in the early 20th century. Juxtaposing images from the two metropolises the programme brings together rarely seen travelogues and home movies. Most of the films of Beijing have only just been digitised and will be seen for the first time in over 70 years.

We invited pianist Han Yun to performance along with those images from old times.

*Please visit http://e.mosh.cn/10493 for online ticketing.

Blackfriars Bridge (1896)
This is one of the earliest surviving films of London, shot by the pioneering British director Robert Paul.

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee (1897) - extracts
Filmed during the celebrations of 22 June 1897, Queen Victoria can be spotted in her carriage under a large parasol.

Nankin Road, Shanghai (1901)
This film of Nanjing Road is the earliest footage of China in the BFI collection. Note the large international presence including German soldiers and Indian Sikh police.

Old London Street Scenes (1903)
This film shows a variety of famous sights including the Houses of Parliament, Charing Cross, Victoria Embankment, the Law Courts in the Strand and the Bank of England.

Modern China (1910)
Also known as In Quaint Pekin, this film was produced by one of Britain’s most important film early production companies, the Charles Urban Trading Company.

London Street Scenes – Trafalgar Square (1910)
This panorama of Trafalgar Square features the National Gallery and Nelson’s Column. Charing Cross Underground Station is seen under construction.

Trafalgar Square Riot (1913)
Led by Sylvia Pankhurst, this suffragette procession in Trafalgar Square demanding votes for women results in a ‘riot’ in Whitehall.

Peking and Its Environs (1910)
Showing scenes in and around Beijing, this film was produced in various languages for screening across Europe.

Royal Wedding (1923)
This Topical Budget newsreel shows the wedding of the Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Queen Elizabeth II's future parents.

Street Scenes in China (c1925) - extracts
Filmed by Lady Dorothea Hosie (1895-1959) these extracts show scenes in Beihai Park and Sun Yat-sen’s funeral procession.

Cosmopolitan London (1924) – extracts
This film shows some of the diverse communities living in London in the 1920s and features the famous Chinatown at Limehouse.

China (1928) – extracts
This amateur film shows scenes at the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and Nankou Railway Station.

The Open Road (1925) – extract
Claude Friese-Greene recorded his journey across Britain using an experimental colour film process. Here he passes through London.

Singing the Old Glory of Old China (1929)
Apparently filmed at a Beijing fair, this film was originally made with sound.

Scenes at Piccadilly Circus and Hyde Park Corner Underground Stations (1931) - extract
Amateur footage filmed on the London Underground.

Eng Family Films (1932) - extracts
These home movies were shot by Sukia Kenneth Eng (1899-1974) in Beijing during a family holiday.

Street Scenes (1933) - extracts
Reginald Stanley Clay (1868-1954), a physicist and academic, shot extensive footage of Beijing and Shanghai during a trip to China with his wife in 1933.

Lunch-Hour (1933) – extract
This amateur documentary by Matthew Nathan shows the City of London enjoying its lunchtime break.

Colour on the Thames (1935) – extract
A journey along the Thames from Richmond via the Tower of London filmed in early colour process Gasparcolor.

The Forbidden City (1933)
These scenes outside the walls of the Forbidden City were filmed by Reginald Stanley Clay.

Trooping the Colour (1937) - extracts
Filmed in Dufaycolor, this film features a brief appearance from the future Queen Elizabeth II.

Guests: Robin Baker (head curator at the BFI National Archive), Han Yun (jazz pianist)

Robin Baker, Head Curator at the BFI Archive, has worked in film exhibition, distribution, marketing and archiving for 20 years. He has worked extensively as a film programmer, including as co-director of the London Children's Film Festival and the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. In 2001 he was part of the team that established the Independent Cinema Office, and in 2005 he joined to BFI to oversee the curation of the BFI Mediatheques. His recent research includes work on the BFI's extensive collection of non-fiction films shot in pre-Independence India. He has written and directed two short films and his radio play Elephant and Castle was broadcast by BBC Radio 4 in 2010.

Han Yun
After graduating from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2005, Han Yun has been steadily gaining recognition in the jazz music world. Besides having created and produced music for many TV shows and films, Han has also performed regularly at JZ CLUB, the most renowned jazz bar in Shanghai. Weaving in and out of classical, pop, jazz, funk and new folk, his name can now be heard everywhere from Beijing, Shanghai, and Macau.

Partner: British Council