The top 5 things to do in Montreal: May 23 to June 2
Ben-Hur: The craziest chariot race ever recorded on celluloid.
It’s raining again? Not to worry. This week, it’s pretty hot indoors, too.
1. LAST CHANCE
Ben-Hur (1925) | May 24, 7 p.m. | $9 (student rate)
Epic rivalries, ancient Rome, plus the first, and craziest, chariot race ever recorded on celluloid are on the menu as the Concordia Cinéclub / Film Society rounds out its 2013-14 season.
Ben-Hur (1925) was shot in the wild days of silent cinema, when stuntmen and horses actually died on set. Director Fred Niblo used 42 cameras to film the race — take that, McG.
An orchestra (piano, violin and percussion) is providing live accompaniment; coffee, tea, popcorn and sweet treats will be served.
2. VIDEO GAMES OF THE FUTURE
VideoVideoJam | May 23, 3 p.m. | $21.95
Do you secretly dream of making multi-screen and full-motion video games from a mishmash of film, video, animation and comic-book art?
It's time to sign up for this experimental workshop at “Science Faction,” the 6th edition of the Sight + Sound digital art festival (May 20 to 28).
No need to be an expert: the VideoVideoJam involves a tutorial from professional developers.
3. OLD SCHOOL TECHNO
The Science Fiction and Early Techno Conference | May 24, 2 to 3 p.m. | Free
A second Sight + Sound bonanza, this time for science fiction and early techno fanatics.
Get ready to jump from dystopic Detroit (i.e. the original Robocop) to 70s funk music. Also: Afrofuturism, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, Drexciya, Sun Ra and so much more.
Find out more about The Science Fiction and Early Techno Conference.
4. TOP DRAW
Tegan and Sara | May 24, 8 p.m. | $46.80
Here’s a clue: Calgary. Cheekbones. Indie twins.
Yup, Tegan and Sara are back in Montreal with their new album, Heartthrob. It’s their pop-iest effort yet, full of teenage affection, mutual love, solitude and regret.
As Sara Quin said in Interview Magazine, “With this record, it was sort of like, I want to blow people’s hair back in every room.” So bring your comb.
Find out more about the Tegan and Sara show on May 24.
Watch the video for “Closer” from Heartthrob.
5. TOTALLY RANDOM AND POTENTIALLY AWESOME
Radio Tap 2.0 | May 30 to 31 | $37.30
Fire your imagination with an homage to two of the most influential rocks bands of all time: The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. We all love’em. But can a person really tap dance to “Satisfaction”?
Montreal’s Klaxson Tap Dance School finds out.
Stay up to date with what’s going on in Montreal by subscribing to La Vitrine’s newsletter.
About the author
Andy Fidel is a Montreal-based freelance journalist, photographer and writer with dreams of living on a submarine. She enjoys metro rides, writer's block and cold instant coffee.