Across the UK, there are just over 30 venues showing The Odyssey on either 70mm or 35mm. Marketing Executive at Tyneside Cinema, John Patterson, describes it as a "privilege" to show The Odyssey in 35mm, stating “we’re very lucky to be selected as one of only a handful of cinemas that have been provided the opportunity”.
Tyneside offers a variety of titles in 35mm screenings. Patterson notes that “there has definitely been a strong response for Nolan’s The Odyssey in this format”, claiming that audiences have been “really passionate”. The unique experience of seeing the release on film has drawn in audiences from Newcastle and beyond.
Odysseus’s world-spanning journey is epic in the literal and colloquial sense, with breath-taking scenery and thought-provoking interpretations of infamous Homeric characters. “With 35mm,” explains Patterson, “you’re offered an authenticity in colour tones and textures that digital cinema can't always replicate”. Alongside the vast scope of the film’s settings, the Troy sequences are a standout for Patterson in the 35mm viewings. “[The Odyssey] is a beautiful work to experience on film,” he states.
Tyneside’s 35mm screenings of The Odyssey have attracted cinephiles across generations. In the age of short-form content – and streaming services allegedly writing obvious and repetitive dialogue because audiences will inevitably watch whilst scrolling on their phones – many younger people are turning to cinemas as a way to reconnect with the art of motion pictures.
Patterson noted that there is an “increasing trend of younger audiences valuing the cinematic experience”, which is reflected in the cross-generational appeal of Tyneside’s film screenings. The Odyssey in particular has upheld this trend. Review platform Letterboxd has introduced a Letterboxd stamp card for viewing the film in different formats, which Patterson commends as “a savvy move to engage a younger audience through a popular platform”.
Internet users claim that there is an elitist aspect to the film’s inherent exclusivity...
There has been a lot of online discourse this summer about the implications of seeing The Odyssey ‘the way Nolan intended’. Internet users claim that there is an elitist aspect to the film’s inherent exclusivity, especially with two out of three of UK cinemas showing 70mm IMAX being in London.
However, elitist attitudes appear to stem from cinephile communities themselves, not the actual film release; looking down on other cinemagoers for their choice of format is the problem, rather than the actual choice to shoot a film on 70mm IMAX. Whilst film screenings offer additional visual benefits such as tone and textures, digital screenings of The Odyssey offer the same epic plot, haunting score, and poignant thematic choices.
I have discussed my favourite parts of the film with The Courier’s News Sub-Editor, Grace Loveday. Grace saw The Odyssey in a digital screening at her local cinema, whereas I was able to experience it in 70mm IMAX. Whilst our viewing experiences in the cinema would have differed in terms of aspect ratio, texture, and tone, we both gave the same glowing reviews. Grace was particularly captivated by the “central human theme” of the film and the focus on storytelling, particularly evident in the final Troy flashback sequences, which permeates the viewing experience regardless of format.
Tyneside Cinema has offered both 35mm film and digital screenings throughout The Odyssey’s run, providing audiences with options. Additionally, the release provides an opportunity for both cinemas and cinemagoers to celebrate an ambitious cinematic undertaking, potentially introducing new fans to the art form. According to Patterson, the feat of Nolan’s project has “led to people seeing The Odyssey multiple times on various formats which, as a team that loves film in all its forms, we will always be supportive of”.
The run of The Odyssey this summer has left a positive and exciting mark on Tyneside’s 90 years of cinema history. The opportunity for film and digital screenings keeps audiences of all interests involved, and creates a culturally meaningful event for Newcastle’s treasured independent cinema to host.