Recent Film Restorations

[DeprongMori]

I’m guessing the new Shanghai Express restoration is not because the missing footage during the interrogation scene has finally been found.

[Stefan Andersson]

The Defendant, Obžalovaný / Czechoslovakia 1964, Ján Kadár, Elmar Klos, DCP
https://www.kviff.com/en/programme/film ... -defendant

The Last Chance, Die letzte Chance / Switzerland 1945, Lindtberg, DCP
https://www.kviff.com/en/programme/film ... ast-chance

[Stefan Andersson]

Spring in a Small Town, Fei Mu, 1948, 4K
"Restored from the 35mm nitrate camera-original negatives, this 4K restoration by the China Film Archive honors the 120th anniversary of director Fei Mu’s birth. A highlight of this project was the discovery of a pre-mix music soundtrack negative, which was confirmed as part of the original 1948 theatrical soundtrack. The original balance and ambient depth were restored, and the audio was remastered into 5.1 surround sound."
https://tiff.net/films/spring-in-a-small-town

Durian Durian, Fruit Chan, 4K
https://www.westk.hk/en/newsroom/mplus- ... esentation

[Stefan Andersson]

Man Who Came Back, 1924, w/ George O´Brien
Man Trouble, 1930, w/ Dorothy Mackaill
https://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/man- ... 026-10-14/

That´s My Daddy, 1928, w/ Reginald Denny
https://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/that ... 026-12-06/

The Quarterback, 1924, w/ Richard Dix
https://www.losangelessilentfilmfestiva ... oklet.html

[Stefan Andersson]

The Spring River Flows East, China 1947, 4K:
https://www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/chines ... lows-east/
https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Spring% ... ast/932805

[hearthesilence]

My Brother´s Wedding, Burnett:
https://www.berlinale.de/en/2026/progra ... 16538.html

This opened at Film Forum this weekend with Burnett participating in a Q&A tonight. (There's one tomorrow at 2:20 p.m. that's "sold out" but I guarantee you if you try standby, you'll probably get in. Most "sold out" Film Forum screenings I've been to in the past year got everyone in, and even then there were open seats in the very front row. There's also an intro at Sunday's 4:30 p.m. screening which still has tickets, but the nice thing about the Q&A's is that Burnett hangs out afterwards and talks to everybody.)

The 4K restoration is indeed gorgeous. It looks like the original negative was used due to the amazing clarity, texture, detail and above all the color - I've never seen it look better in that regard, especially in one scene where a hot pink robe reminds you it's the '80s! I'm guessing the elements were really well-preserved, but if they weren't, they did a fantastic job of polishing and repairing everything - I can't recall a single blemish or a sign of aging or deterioration.

As for the film itself, it hit me that so much of the humor plays like classic Hollywood comedies from the 1930s - specifically the exasperated and at times deliciously mean passive-aggressive behavior between people who intensely dislike each other. It's like Burnett knew how that kind of film works, but he was going to do it within the world of Watts, Los Angeles and with the visual (and aural) aesthetic used in his previous film, albeit in color.

Also, Burnett mentioned he was still working on that documentary film about police brutality - I hope he finds more financial support soon.

[hearthesilence]

Spring in a Small Town, Fei Mu, 1948, 4K
"Restored from the 35mm nitrate camera-original negatives, this 4K restoration by the China Film Archive honors the 120th anniversary of director Fei Mu’s birth. A highlight of this project was the discovery of a pre-mix music soundtrack negative, which was confirmed as part of the original 1948 theatrical soundtrack. The original balance and ambient depth were restored, and the audio was remastered into 5.1 surround sound."
https://tiff.net/films/spring-in-a-small-town

This could be a major event if they don't screw up the restoration with de-graining or other misguided approaches. I really, really hope they don't filter and scrub the crap out of everything.

[Mr.DarjeelingLimited]

Spring in a Small Town, Fei Mu, 1948, 4K
"Restored from the 35mm nitrate camera-original negatives, this 4K restoration by the China Film Archive honors the 120th anniversary of director Fei Mu’s birth. A highlight of this project was the discovery of a pre-mix music soundtrack negative, which was confirmed as part of the original 1948 theatrical soundtrack. The original balance and ambient depth were restored, and the audio was remastered into 5.1 surround sound."
https://tiff.net/films/spring-in-a-small-town

This could be a major event if they don't screw up the restoration with de-graining or other misguided approaches. I really, really hope they don't filter and scrub the crap out of everything.

Speaking of this, any chance of a Region A blu release?

[Stefan Andersson]

China Film Archive film restoration pages:

Restored classics catalogue (no restoration tech specs):
https://www.cfa.org.cn/eportal/ui?pageI ... 4eb8477d15

Search:
https://www.cfa.org.cn/eportal/ui?pageI ... 17c0e62aff

the Digital Restoration Workshop:
https://www.cfa.org.cn/eportal/ui?pageI ... 65a09e44a5