Since the Shanghai International Film Festival first created the "4K Restoration" unit in 2014, it has introduced batch after batch of film restoration masterpieces to Chinese audiences. Announced today is the first batch of film lists for the 4K restoration unit——
The "Pyramid of Reasoning Movies" "The Inugami Family" directed by the Japanese film master Kon Ichikawa; the World War I epic "Lawrence of Arabia" directed by the British film master David Lean; directed by Ana Mariscal, one of the pioneers of Spanish female directors "Youth Don't Know Where to Go"; the dark superhero movie "Blade" adapted from Marvel's comic of the same name; the classic romantic comedy "BJ's Diary" adapted from the super best-selling book; "Chess Game"; Alain Delon's anti-war classic "Mr. Crane"; Coppola's immortal gangster classic "The Godfather." Here are their details:
The Inugami Family (1976)
What to watch: The pyramid of Japanese reasoning movies
Adapted from the famous best-selling novel by Japanese mystery novelist Yokomizo Masashi, it tells the story of a murder case caused by the famous detective Kosuke Kindaichi investigating the dispute over the inheritance of the great chaebol Inu Kamami Sabei. Japanese film master Kun Ichikawa used an all-star super-luxury lineup (Masashi Henggou also happily made a cameo appearance), made this twists and turns bizarre story terrifying and unforgettable. After the release, the box office exceeded 1.5 billion yen, becoming the runner-up of the annual box office and winning The best Japanese film director voted by the readers of "Movie Xunbao", Shunji Iwai, who was still a middle school student at the time, has been obsessed with movies ever since. In 2021, to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the company's founding, Kadokawa Pictures re-screened the film after a new 4K scan and repair. The color cast of the previous high-definition version was corrected in the color correction, giving the film a new look.
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
What to watch: An epic production made for the big screen
The immortal masterpiece of British film master David Lean, adapted from the autobiography of British intelligence officer Lawrence, tells the legendary experience of him fighting the Turks with various Arab ministries during World War I. The film not only has magnificent war scenes, but also successfully portrays an alternative hero with complex personality and full of controversy. It won 7 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. The last epic blockbuster. In 1989, restoration experts Robert Harris and Lean jointly restored the film, which became a milestone in the history of film restoration. In 2012, Sony used the most powerful digital technology to scan the film in 8K and restore it in 4K. Restoration sets new standards.
"Youth Don't Know Where to Go" (1964)
What to watch: The secret masterpiece of an all-round female filmmaker
Ana Mariscal is a well-known all-round female filmmaker in the history of Spanish film. She is not only a big star, but also the owner of an independent production company, screenwriter, director and producer. Mariscal raised funds from his relatives and friends, wrote and directed "Youth Don't Know Where to Go", adapted from the novel of the same name, using a realistic approach, through the growth experience of Daniel, a boy in a small town who is about to go to school, to portray The oppressive life of ordinary people in Spain under the Ranco regime. The film fell into obscurity after its release that year, and it was not until many years later that scholars revisited the new Spanish film movement that they discovered its value. After undergoing a new 4K digital restoration, "Youth Don't Know Where to Go" was selected for the "Cannes Classics" restoration unit of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.
Blade Runner (1998)
What to watch: The superheroes of the Marvel Universe
Based on the Marvel comic book character of the same name, it tells the story of the half-human, half-vampire blade warrior Brad fighting against the vampire king Frost. With dazzling fighting scenes, surprisingly winning weapons and equipment, and refreshing visual effects, the film stood out in the 1998 Hollywood summer vacation with a lot of strong players. It cost 45 million US dollars in exchange for a global box office of 130 million. Confidence was boosted, and two sequels and a TV series were derived from it, which became the classic works of super heroes. In 2020, Warner Bros. has carried out a new digital conversion of the film, and the 4K digital copy picture is sharper and the high-contrast effect is more prominent.
"BJ's Diary" (2001)
What to watch: Colin Firth or Hugh Grant?
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, the film tells the story of the 32-year-old heroine Bridget Jones who wants to pursue true love and finds it difficult to choose between two men. The film can be called a contemporary version of "Pride and Prejudice". Renee Zellweger, who looks plain but has unique charm, plays Jones' playfulness and humor, and Colin The rivalry between Firth and Hugh Grant was really good, and she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for the first time. Filmed at a low cost of 25 million US dollars, the film swept 280 million box offices worldwide and became a super topic in 2001. In 2021, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film's release, the film will receive a new 4K digital restoration.
Mr Crane (1976)
What to Watch: When Alain Delon Met Jeanne Moreau
One of the late masterpieces of the film master Joseph Rossi, it tells the story of the French antique dealer Crane desperately trying to prove that he is not Jewish during World War II. With stern brushwork and Kafka's "Judgment"-like allegory, the film shows the process of how an ordinary person is coerced and destroyed in an alienated environment. The film was shortlisted for the main competition unit of the Cannes Film Festival, and also won three awards including the French Film Caesar Award for Best Film and Best Director. The French screen god Alain Delon's low-key and minimalist performance in the film is even more acclaimed. In 2021, to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the film's release, the film will receive a new 4K digital restoration.
"Chess Game of the Wind" (1976)
What to watch: A masterpiece that has been lost for nearly half a century
Iranian director Mohammad Resha Yaslani's classic work tells the story of a large family's battle for inheritance. The film has only been screened once or twice in Tehran since it came out in 1976. It was officially banned in 1979 due to the two issues of female protagonist and love entanglement. The negative film was considered lost for many years until 2014. Found in a thrift store. After this set of negatives was transported from Iran to Paris, with the help of the Martin Scorsese Film Foundation's "World Cinema Project", the Paris branch of the Bologna Film Restoration Institute in Italy did a 4K digital restoration to restore a new film. It was selected into the "Cannes Classics" restoration unit of the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, bringing this classic work to light again.
The Godfather (1972)
What to watch: The second 4K restoration of classic gangster movies
One of the greatest gangster movies in film history, director Francis Ford Coppola adapted popular crime novels into a soul-stirring family epic, and Marlon Brando's performance beyond the age limit won him a second Oscar in his life. Oscar Award for Best Actor. The film was restored in 4K for the first time in 2007. In 2022, in order to welcome the 50th anniversary of the film's release, Paramount and Coppola's American Diorama Company carried out a new 4K scan and restoration of the original negative of the film. The 2007 version is quite different, and a new Dolby Vision version was produced according to the audio-visual specifications of the new era.
Note: In case of any changes in the film list, the actual schedule shall prevail.
