MADISON – In a culture that has people installing expensive home theaters to watch the latest Hollywood blockbuster in the basement of their suburban starter castle, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Cinematheque might seem a sprocket or two off.
At Cinematheque, people gather in 4070 Vilas Hall, 821 University Ave., on Friday and Saturday nights to watch films that are rarely screened, such as silent films, early talkies, international cinema and gems that are not available on video or DVD. And this communal appreciation has been going on, at no charge, since spring 1998.
The Cinematheque was named for the famous Cinematheque Française in Paris, which functions as a combination library-museum by preserving and showing films.
That there is a cinematheque at UW-Madison says something about the appetite for film on campus and in the Madison community. “Most cinematheques are in big cities, connected to a museum or affiliated with a school on the coasts. People in Madison are dedicated to the movies. They are sophisticated viewers. We know they don’t have any problem with watching a black and white film or one with subtitles,” says Lea Jacobs, director of Cinematheque and professor in the Department of Communication Arts.
During its early years, Cinematheque organized occasional film series along with visiting filmmakers or guests. Over the years, offerings were expanded, the screening room was remodeled and two 35mm projectors were added.
The addition of a staff programmer was also a big help in growing an audience and expanding offerings. “I came here from Boston where I was a film programmer at the Goethe-Institut and we charged $6-$8 for a screening,” says Karin Kolb, current Cinematheque programmer. “It’s free here, and that’s a big deal. I don’t think people realize how great it is.”
Still, the Cinematheque keeps a steady eye on how its programming contributes to the scholastic mission on campus. “We serve nearly all of the College of Letters and Science as well as the community at large. The films expose students to art, music, languages, international studies and history – it all overlaps in films,” says Jacobs.
Jacobs is teaching a course this semester on the films of John Ford and classical Hollywood cinema, and Cinematheque has a series of his films ready to supplement the in-class screenings. “Once you watch a Ford film in 35mm you’ll never want to go back to watching on the TV, which I do, but never without regret. So much care goes into every composition, and the color and luminosity are lost,” says Jacobs. “It’s like looking at a reproduction of the Last Supper. Sure, you can learn from it, but to really know it – it’s not the same image.”
Selecting the films is an art form in itself. Suggestions from a committee and opportunities for collaboration with other campus units such as the Chazen Museum of Art or a language department are all part of the process. “We are always on the lookout for new restorations, prints or subtitles. We do our best to honor requests and be inclusive with campus and serve the university,” says programmer Heather Heckman, a Ph.D. student in film history.
Organizing a film series is an involved and complicated process and finding the films in the first place can be a bit of a scavenger hunt. Jacobs says it took two seasons to organize a recent Godard retrospective.
“There isn’t a database of films that we can order from and then just have them delivered,” says Kolb. “Budget cuts are also a problem. With a strong euro and rental fees, some are just too expensive for us. It can cost $500-$700 just for shipping fees for one European film.”
Despite those challenges, Cinematheque’s commitment to screening the best possible prints available is unflagging, and sometimes that commitment ensures access for others into the future. Case in point: A new print of “The Searchers” and a restoration of “Cita en la frontera” were made just for Cinematheque’s spring season.
“The films we show were the blockbusters of their time, nation or culture. It’s still great storytelling,” says Heckman. “And we show them for free. What’s the harm in trying something new?”
The Cinematheque’s spring season features nine exciting film series, special events and new and restored prints and films available for the first time in the United States.
All films take place at Cinematheque, 4070 Vilas Hall. Admission is free, but seating is limited. For more information, contact Heather Heckman, (608) 262-3627, heckman@wisc.edu, or Karin Kolb, (608) 262-3627, kfkolb@wisc.edu, or visit http://www.cinema.wisc.edu. For more on Cinematheque’s semester schedule, visit http://www.news.wisc.edu/14672#semester.
