A year ago this month I wrote a post about the unfortunate practice of theaters showing movies on video rather than film. I’m not talking about new, experimental works created in video, or free movies in the park, but classic films (with the emphasis on film) in theaters that expect you to pay admission. After hearing from a couple of theater owners, I wrote a follow-up post.
The original post was inspired by a reader’s complaint. That reader, who asked to remain anonymous, co-founded an organization devoted to keeping film alive, not just as an art form, but as the appropriate medium for presenting that art form. The Film on Film Foundation’s first presentation, Venom and Eternity, will screen May 23 at the Roxie.
Made by Jean-Isadore Isou, Venom and Eternity caused riots when first shown in 1951. I’ve never seen it, or even heard of it two weeks ago, but judging from the description on the Foundation’s site, it’s extremely weird.
The bad news: Although the Film on Film Foundation will present Venom and Eternity on film, it will only be 16mm film. As far as anyone knows, the movie no longer exists in 35mm.
Bayflicks 