Tonight at 8 p.m., the Dryden will screen Lonesome (Paul Fejos, U.S. 1928, 69 min., 35mm).

It's the classic story of boy-meets-girl, both lonely but not alone, cyphers lost among the bustle of the big city until at last fate brings them together. They share a brief moment of utter joy (in this case at Coney Island) before being torn apart again to go back to their lives. The style, however, is not classical at all. Director Fejos uses double exposure, quick edits, and a carefully designed color palette to create a contrast between the industrial city and the oasis of the amusement park. Produced at a time of great change, the sound design is also important, particularly the repeated use of Irving Berlin's "Always," and features three talking sequences, added after the entire film had been shot silent.

[source: Dryden website, 2015-May-25]