There’s an almost magical ritual when the lights in a theater go out, the murmur dies down, and the texture of the image signals that we’re about to journey to another world. Christopher Nolan, the great champion of film in its purest form, returns to theaters with “The Odyssey,” a feature film shot from start to finish using massive 70-millimeter IMAX cameras. His intention is simply to present viewers with a monumental, ultra-high-resolution canvas—free of any visual cropping—in pursuit of total immersion.
The problem arises when it comes to finding a seat. As of today, there isn’t a single projector in all of Spain capable of reproducing this exact format—combining the IMAX aspect ratio with analog film. For purists who wish to experience the film exactly as the director intended in the editing room, the closest option involves crossing the border. However, for those who prefer to stay in Barcelona, the city has a couple of aces up its sleeve that more than make up for it.
A short pilgrimage to the south of France
If the goal is to enjoy the immense photochemical projection without sacrificing a single millimeter of the frame, the place to go is the Pathé Odysseum. Located in Montpellier, about 280 kilometers from Barcelona, this venue has just opened one of the very few theaters in southern Europe equipped with a 70mm IMAX projector.
At nearly a four-hour drive away, this getaway becomes the only surefire way to immerse yourself in the film’s true resolution and that more square, enveloping image that characterizes the film.
The warmth of film in our local temple
If traveling kilometers isn’t part of your plans, the Phenomena Experience is a must-visit in the Catalan capital for lovers of the analog format. This well-known cinephile haven, which always pays meticulous attention to the decor and acoustics of its theater, will screen the film using a traditional 70-millimeter film projector. Since it doesn’t have the height of an IMAX screen, the screen is slightly more rectangular, and the image will lose a bit of detail at the top and bottom. In return, this screening in the original version with subtitles (VOSE) will preserve the exceptional contrast, texture, and physical grain that make celluloid unique.
Immersion on a Grand Scale in Digital Format
Barcelona’s other major option involves sacrificing the magic of the analog format in favor of size. The CINESA Diagonal Mar complex allows you to immerse yourself in the film through its state-of-the-art IMAX Digital theater. Although the texture of traditional cinema is lost, its enormous screen manages to encompass a much larger portion of the image than a conventional theater, preserving the visual immensity that Nolan seeks in every shot. All of this, of course, comes with the classic amenities of a modern multiplex, including comfortable seats and the indispensable popcorn.
