I have just arrived back home again after a fantastic trip to Cinemateket, Filmens Hus, Oslo, and 8 films in the worlds best film-format: 70MM!!!

It was the very first 70mm-festival there and it turned out to be a grand success. Not only Norwegians were there. I talked to people from Austria and England and if I´m not mistaken I even I heard some Italian there. I was there together with two friends from Malmö, Sweden. Even the Norwegian Minister of Culture paid a visit. Unfortunately I had no possibility to join the whole week, so I missed films like "Around the World In 80 Days", "Star!", "The Fall of the Roman Empire" etc. But I was told, most of them were in quite good condition.

Anyway, I saw all the films during the week-end I attended which included two films in incredibly good condition: "Lawrence of Arabia" and "West Side Story". The pictures and colours were so crystal-clear and sharp that you thought you could walk right into them. "The Greatest Story Ever Told", "My Fair Lady", "Playtime" and "The Sound of Music" were all a bit pale, but one forgets the failings after a short while and dives right into an exciting adventure. "Ryan's Daughter" was, for me, the first time in a cinema. It was grand to, at last, see this David Lean-masterpiece as it should be seen. And finally "Doctor Zhivago", the best film ever made!!! Says who??? Well, says I. Of course it was a bit faded, but what can I say more than thank you Jan Eberholst Olsen and Cinemateket, and Filmens Hus in Oslo, for having such good taste and having made this festival so rewarding.

Good luck, and I look forward to the next festival you already are planning for next year!

 

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