FILM ARCHIVE / 35MM

The Fifth Element

35mm1997Science Fiction / Action / AdventureEdition: 1997

Directed by Luc Besson, The Fifth Element (1997) is a visually spectacular science-fiction adventure combining futuristic action, eccentric characters, elaborate production design and imaginative storytelling. Set in the 23rd century, the film follows Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), a former special forces soldier turned New York City taxi driver whose ordinary life takes an extraordinary turn when a mysterious young woman named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) crashes into his flying cab. Leeloo is no ordinary human. She is the legendary Fifth Element, a supreme being capable of preventing an ancient cosmic evil from destroying Earth. With the assistance of priest Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm), Korben must help Leeloo recover four sacred elemental stones before they fall into the hands of the ruthless industrialist Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg (Gary Oldman). Their journey takes them through the densely populated streets of futuristic New York, aboard luxurious interstellar spacecraft and into confrontations with dangerous alien mercenaries, culminating in a desperate race to save humanity. Known for its extraordinary visual effects, colourful costumes designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier and memorable electronic-orchestral soundtrack by Éric Serra, The Fifth Element remains one of the most distinctive science-fiction films of the 1990s.

DIRECTORLuc Besson

EDITION RUNTIME2 hr 5 min

FILE SIZE5.58 GB

FILE FORMATMKV

RESOLUTION1920x1080

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THE DIFFERENCES

What changed in this version?

This edition celebrates The Fifth Element in its original 35mm theatrical exhibition format, the format used to distribute the film to cinemas during its initial 1997 release.

Photographed on 35mm film by cinematographer Thierry Arbogast, the production used Super 35 photography, with theatrical release prints presented in anamorphic widescreen.

A presentation sourced from an original 35mm release print can preserve characteristics of photochemical cinema, including natural film grain, distinctive colour reproduction, subtle print texture and the appearance of an analogue theatrical screening.

Depending on the condition and generation of the surviving print, a 35mm scan may also contain occasional scratches, dust, reel-change marks, colour fluctuations or other characteristics associated with physical film.

Unlike modern digital restorations sourced directly from original camera negatives, a genuine theatrical print scan can offer a different viewing experience, reflecting the film as it appeared through traditional cinema projection.

Historical Significance

Released in 1997, The Fifth Element arrived during a period when traditional photochemical filmmaking was increasingly being combined with computer-generated visual effects.

The film's imaginative environments, detailed physical sets, elaborate miniatures and digital effects helped establish its unique visual identity.

Original 35mm theatrical prints are particularly interesting to film collectors and preservation enthusiasts because they represent the physical distribution format through which audiences originally experienced the film.

For collectors of theatrical film presentations, a 35mm-sourced version of The Fifth Element offers an opportunity to revisit Luc Besson's futuristic adventure through the aesthetic of traditional motion-picture film.

VISUAL REFERENCE

Edition screenshots 9