Buster Keaton’s The General with Stathis Anninos: A cinematic masterpiece accompanied live by piano and electronics

One hundred years after its release, The General, Buster Keaton’s legendary silent-film masterpiece, returns to the big screen in a unique live performance at the Garden of the Athens Concert Hall. On Friday, 19 June at 21:00, pianist and composer Stathis Anninos, one of the most versatile musicians of his generation, will accompany the film with piano and live electronics, creating an original and dynamic soundtrack that reimagines the timeless classic for contemporary audiences.

Set during the American Civil War, The General follows a fearless locomotive engineer who embarks on a daring pursuit after Union spies steal his beloved train and kidnap the woman he loves. What unfolds is an exhilarating chase filled with breathtaking stunts, relentless action, romance, and the unmistakable comic genius of Buster Keaton.

For the seventh consecutive year, the Garden of the Athens Concert Hall hosts a landmark work of silent cinema. This year’s selection celebrates one of the most influential achievements in film history, directed by and starring Keaton himself. Widely regarded as a turning point in cinematic storytelling, The General redefined screen comedy through large-scale action sequences, meticulous visual narration without dialogue, and groundbreaking directing and editing techniques. The use of real trains, daring practical stunts, and extended takes established a new standard of cinematic realism and technical ambition.

Keaton’s unwavering commitment to authenticity and precision has become part of the enduring mythology surrounding both the filmmaker and the film. A century later, the perfect balance of humour, spectacle, and suspense continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences around the world.