On February 20th, the 4K restored version of the classic silent film The Goddess (1934) premiered at the Berlinale Classics section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. The event featured speeches from Rainer Rother, Director of the Deutsche Kinemathek and Head of the Berlinale Classics section, Xue Ning, Deputy Director of the China Film Archive, and Li Tao, Director of the Production and Digital Resources Departments, along with CFA's restoration team.
CFA's restoration team at the Berlinale Classics
The venue's 560 seats were filled to capacity. Following the screening, the audience responded with palpable enthusiasm, with some remarking, "I can't believe such shots were captured in a 1930s film." Many viewers also shared their emotions on social media, with one commenting, "Watching this restored version on the big screen brought me to tears."
The screening of the 4k restored version of The Goddess at the Berlinale Classics
This marks the first 4K restoration of The Goddess. "Over the years, the film has become a celebrated cinematic ambassador, with invitations to film festivals and events in more than 20 countries, making it one of the most 'traveled' films in history," says Sun Xianghui, Director of the China Film Archive.
At the 1982 "Chinese Film Retrospective" in Italy, The Goddess garnered praise from over 150 film historians and critics, both domestic and international. Its lead actress, Ruan Lingyu, was even dubbed "China's Garbo." However, due to the absence of a clear version suitable for public screening, it was challenging for a wider audience to fully appreciate this cinematic classic.
In 2014, the China Film Archive completed a 2K restoration of The Goddess and held its global premiere at our art cinema. The KT Wong Foundation sponsored the event, inviting the China Philharmonic Orchestra to perform a live score during the screening. Both showings sold out, with over 1,000 tickets priced at 180 and 200 yuan each. To accommodate the orchestra's performance, the cinema even removed the front row seats.
The 2K restored version of The Goddess had its world premiere at the CFA Art Cinema in 2014
The musical accompaniment for The Goddess varied significantly across different screenings, as Sun Xianghui noted: "At the Toronto International Film Festival, the film was accompanied by piano, while in Portugal, a string quartet performed. During the screening at the Cinémathèque française, the Orchestre de Chambre Pelléas provided the live score..." In the history of restored films worldwide, few have had a score composed and recorded with funding from a foreign public welfare foundation specifically for the creation of a musical version of the film.
The 4K restored version of The Goddess, screened at the Berlin International Film Festival, was meticulously scanned and restored from the original 35mm nitrate negative. Utilizing advanced AI technology, the restoration team significantly enhanced both efficiency and quality, delivering breathtaking visual results. The film’s music, based on Zou Ye’s renowned 2014 stereo score for The Goddess, was remixed and re-recorded in 5.1 surround sound, elevating the auditory experience and immersing audiences in a richer, more dynamic cinematic atmosphere.
Dr. Rainer Rother with the CFA restoration team
The restoration of The Goddess has been a remarkable endeavor, with its image upgraded from 2K to 4K and the soundtrack transformed from stereo to immersive 5.1 surround sound. This process is not just a technical achievement—it represents a significant milestone in the history of Chinese film restoration.
The China Film Archive has been at the forefront of preserving cinematic heritage, having completed over 500 2K restorations and more than 60 in 4K to date. Among these, the 4K versions of The Horse Thief, New Year Sacrifice, and Armour of God II: Operation Condor were showcased at Cannes Classics in 2019, 2020, and 2024, respectively. Additionally, the 4K restoration of China's earliest surviving feature film, Laborer's Love, premiered at the prestigious Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna, Italy, in 2022.
These classic films, through restoration and musical accompaniment, breathe new life into the once-dormant memories of cinema. They serve as a means of preserving and passing on Chinese film cultural heritage, and a significant window to share Chinese stories with the world, allowing audiences to witness "beauty."
This year marks the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema and the 90th anniversary of Ruan Lingyu's passing. The China Film Archive has curated a special exhibition dedicated to Ruan Lingyu, set to open in March. The exhibition will feature the 4K restored version of The Goddess. In addition, "Gifts from China Film Archive", our official film merchandise brand, has created two exclusive commemorative posters for the 4K restoration of The Goddess, alongside a range of other products inspired by the film.
Commemorative posters for the 4K restored version of The Goddess
(Translated by Luo Desai)