“The Man Who Laughs” screens for Friday in Harvard Square.

As part of the soft opening of “The Film and … Festival” coming in 2020 – revolving programming about film and accompanying enrichments – on 8:30 p.m. Friday The Brattle Theatre presents “The Man Who Laughs” (1928), the silent classic starring Conrad Veidt as a young man whose face is disfigured by King James II and subsequently has what looks like a permanent smile on his face. Yup, the role was the inspiration for Batman’s Gotham city rival, The Joker. Local musician Jeff Rapsis accompanies the film with a live score.

See it at The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square. Information is here.

This post was updated Oct. 17, 2019, to correct misinformation that it was free and presented in conjunction with the Boston Underground Film Festival.