Dunkirk coming to an Imax theatre near you
Much of war film was shot with a large-format camera
Dunkirk: The Imax Experience returns to Imax Victoria in the Royal B.C. Museum on Friday for a week-long run in advance of awards season.
Christopher Nolan’s Second World War drama has generated considerable buzz as a likely Oscar and Golden Globes contender.
The two-hour film’s local re-release is concurrent with a wider rollout in 50 Imax and 70-millimetre theatres across North America, from New York to Los Angeles.
Dunkirk tells the story of the rescue of thousands of British and Allied troops off France’s northern beaches as the enemy closed in during the Second World War.
The film’s large ensemble cast includes Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Fionn Whitehead and Tom Glynn-Carney.
A large portion of the film was captured with the highest-resolution IMAX cameras used to date.
Scenes filmed with these cameras expand to fill the entire Imax screen, allowing filmgoers to see up to 40 per cent more of the image with unprecedented crispness, clarity and colour saturation.
In a statement, Sue Kroll, president of worldwide marketing and distribution for Warner Bros, said that with Dunkirk, Nolan “broke new ground in the use of large-format cameras to create a theatrical event that demands to be seen on the largest possible canvas.”
Also returning, on Dec. 9, is The Polar Express, director Robert Zemeckis’s adventure based on Chris Van Allsburg’s beloved children’s book about a boy’s journey of self-discovery during a train ride to the North Pole.
The perennial Christmas favourite, starring Tom Hanks, has been remastered to take advantage of the theatre’s upgraded laser-projection system, with 3D and 2D viewing options. It’s returning for the 12th time.
An Imax Victoria spokesperson said another 10 shows would be added this year based on the popularity of the 4K laser version of the film when it played there last year.
Dunkirk will be shown nightly at 7:15 until Dec. 7. The Polar Express will be screened with a multitude of showtimes during its limited engagement, which ends Dec. 28.
To reserve tickets in advance, go to imaxvictoria.com or call 250-953-4629.