The Bridge on the River Kwai, Restored, at SIFF Cinema This Weekend

The Bridge on the River Kwai is one of those landmark films that lives up to the hype. ("Destined to become a classic!" said LOOK magazine, and they were right.) Briefly, Obi wan Kenobi has been captured by the Empire of the Sun, who want him and his Jedi knights to build them a bridge. Lots of mind tricks ensue. As a David Lean film, it demands to be seen on the big screen. And--at 161 minutes--in a comfortable chair.

It's a 4k digital restoration which, now that I've looked that up, I'm happy to tell you means they scanned the original film at 4,000 lines of resolution. There's something metaphorical in that fidelity, given that the film itself is "loosely based" on a true story. It's playing tonight at 7 p.m., and then over the weekend at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., at SIFF Cinema in McCaw Hall. Tickets are $10. Bring your own pith helmet.