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Author Archives: James Steffen
What Color is The Color of Pomegranates? A Critique of the 2014 World Cinema Project/L’Immagine Ritrovata Restoration of Parajanov’s Film
After closely examining the 2014 World Cinema Project/L’Immagine Ritrovata restoration of Sergei Parajanov’s The Color of Pomegranates and the same archival print that they consulted as a color reference, I am sorry to report that the restoration significantly departs from … Continue reading
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The Third Man Restored
Let me say up front that the new Studio Canal restoration of Carol Reed’s The Third Man (1949) turned out beautifully. I’ve seen the film multiple times over the years both on film and video, and this is its best … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Reviews
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Gadgets: the PonoPlayer
After I lost my Fiio X5 music player (a long story), I ended up replacing it with Neil Young’s highly publicized, Kickstarter-funded project, the PonoPlayer. It retails for $399. Given that iPhones and most other smartphones can play music files … Continue reading
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Notable Blu-rays of 2014
This list is oriented toward older films which have either been neglected or greatly benefit from the new perspective that the Blu-ray edition in question provides. It is admittedly partial–there are many significant Blu-ray editions that I was not able … Continue reading
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The Cinema of Sergei Parajanov selected as a Choice Outstanding Academic Title of 2014
In the January 2015 issue of Choice, my book The Cinema of Sergei Parajanov (University of Wisconsin Press, 2013) has been selected as an “Outstanding Academic Title” for 2014 in Film. Choice is a publication of the Association of College … Continue reading
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Garrick Ohlsson at the Schwartz Center
At this point Garrick Ohlsson surely must be one of the best all-around pianists performing today, if not the very best. He is not just a virtuoso, but a complete musician. His touch displays incredible control even in the most … Continue reading
Posted in Music, Reviews
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The Color of Pomegranates Restored
At the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, The Film Foundation/World Cinema Project premiered a new 4k digital restoration of Sergei Parajanov’s The Color of Pomegranates (1969). Currently it is screening at various film festivals around the world, and one hopes that … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Parajanov
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Notes on Il Cinema Ritrovato
This year I finally had the opportunity to attend–and participate in–the annual Il Cinema Ritrovato film festival in Bologna, Italy. Hosted by the Cineteca di Bologna, the festival features a truly global range of newly restored films, retrospectives and curated … Continue reading
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Art exhibit in New York: Sergei Parajanov, the Creator
At long last an exhibit of Parajanov’s artworks from the Sergei Parajanov Museum in Yerevan has come to New York City. Entitled Sergei Parajanov: The Creator, the exhibit runs through June … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Parajanov
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How I Discovered Parajanov
During my November 18 author talk at Emory University for my book The Cinema of Sergei Parajanov, someone asked how I got interested in Parajanov’s work. Here is the story in more detail. I first learned of Parajanov in 1987, … Continue reading