Lindgren & Langlois: The Archive Paradox

Lindgren & Langlois: The Archive Paradox features an intense letter exchange between two influential film archivists on opposing sides of the debate between preservation and circulation.

Simply constructed, with each one reading their letters aloud, the film reveals each archivist's frustrations with the other’s practices, whilst revealing a reluctant mutual respect.

Artist Ruth Beale has constructed the narrative from the writing, correspondence and commentators of Ernest Lindgren (1910-1973), the BFI National Film Archive’s first curator, and Henri Langlois (1914-1977), the flamboyant and passionate co-founder of the Cinémathèque Française. This is the first UK screening of The Archive Paradox, and is presented in association with Grand Union.