Friday, September 05, 2008

Sydpoleekspedisjonen 1910-1912

[The South Pole Expedition 1910-1912]. Shot by Roald Amundsen and his crew. Restored by Nasjionalbiblioteket (Norge) (2008). Based on the original negative and the English print with English subtitles. Presented by Morten Skallerud at the meeting of the Nordic film archives, Bio Carl, Copenhagen, 4 September 2008. 21 min. - First screened as HDSR projection, and then as a film projection. - The Norwegian Roald Amundsen (1872-1928) led the first Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole in 1910-1912. Incredibly, there was also a film record, shot by Amundsen and his colleagues. - A good definition. - The ship being fitted up for the expedition. The provisions, the dogs (Greenland huskies and a Samoyed lead bitch). Entertainment aboard, a man in woman's clothes. A lively atmosphere. - The chef is the Henrik Lindström well-known in the Nordic countries for his "Lindström's steak". - The Bay of Whales: shoals of whales. - Dwellings. Antarctic midsummer. Minus 60 grades Centigrade. - Not filmed: sledges hauled by dogs take the men to the South Pole. - Funny shot of man meeting penguin, in a silhouette-like composition. - (Not in the film: killing seals, penguins and many of the dogs for food.) - Since the 1980s a short English version has been available but maybe not very well-known. Now the original material has been restored and reconstructed properly. - Also Shackleton shot South Pole footage before and after Amundsen. Scott filmed South Pole footage simultaneously with Amundsen. Penguins were a favourite motif with all. - The HDSR projection looked good, the 35mm film print even better.

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