Screening: Orphee, 95 min., France 1950

The magic of cinema is fully realised in Jean Cocteau's Orphee - one of the finest films from one of the most significant artists of the twentieth century. A contemporary account of the Greek myth, set in post-war Paris, Orphee is a work of haunting beauty that follows the poetic logic of a dream. It tells of a famous poet's love affair with Death, a mysterious princess, as he follows her through a mirror into the underworld in search of inspiration. Poet, novelist, painter, playwright and film-maker, Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) worked in many different artistic media. The breadth of his talent and the depth of his vision finds full expression in Orphee: Hades looks like occupied Paris; messages from the after-life are broadcast from car radios; and Death drives round in a vintage Rolls Royce accompanied by leather-clad bikers.

Jean Cocteau's master piece is screened with the feature commentary by Roland-Francois Lack.