The February silent film at the Prince Charles Cinema in London is well worth a watch. The group Minima, who have written and performed scores for several silent films, will accompany Aelita: Queen of Mars (1924) at the PCC on 24 February. You might have seen this show at the BFI last year, but if you missed it then, this is a great opportunity.

The film is a piece of Soviet science-fiction, with fantastic constructivist sets and costumes. The hero of the film, Los, travels to Mars, where he will lead a popular revolution against the planet’s ruling class, with the help of queen Aelita, who has fallen in love with him. But all is not quite as it seems …

Minima have soundtracked Nosferatu, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari and The Lodger, among others. If you’re a fan of their scores, you might enjoy this interview with Alex Hogg from the band, in which he talks about how they set about scoring a silent film:

Films from the 1920s have a different pace, and for the uninitiated it can be hard work, so a contemporary interpretation by musicians can really help. You can make people laugh, cry and jump out of their seats but we only do this in the name of accompanying the film and helping people to watch the film.

Aelita: Queen of Mars is screened on 24 February at 8.45pm. Tickets are £10 or £6 for members and you can buy them here.