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Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has been receiving rave reviews around the world – including a glowing endorsement from Time Out's own film critic. But if you're in Helsinki, which cinema offers the ultimate big-screen experience for the most anticipated movie of the year?
The answer isn't quite as straightforward as you might think.
Nolan famously shot the film using 70mm IMAX cameras. To experience it exactly as the director intended, you’d ideally need an IMAX theater equipped with a massive 70mm film projector. Together, they create an extraordinarily immersive experience; Nolan places Odysseus and his battle-worn crew on vast, endless seas that stretch far beyond your field of vision. You can practically taste the saltwater.
The catch? Finding one of those cinemas – and actually getting a ticket – is a Homeric challenge in itself. Only 41 cinemas in the world can project The Odyssey in true IMAX 70mm. More than half of them are in the United States. In Europe, there are only six: three in the UK and one each in France (Montpellier), Belgium (Brussels) and the Czech Republic (Prague).
Finland doesn't have one.
In fact, Finland has just one IMAX cinema, located at Finnkino Itis in eastern Helsinki (just a short metro ride from the city centre). However, Itis doesn't have a physical 70mm film projector, so it screens the movie in digital IMAX format – on Finland's biggest cinema screen.
On the flip side, if you want to see the authentic 70mm film print, you can head to Bio Rex Lasipalatsi. Located right in the heart of downtown Helsinki, this stunning 1930s functionalist cinema is a historical gem in its own right and one of the few places in the Nordics capable of projecting traditional 70mm film. While the screen isn't the size of IMAX, it does let you experience the richness, texture and subtle grain of large-format film projection.
So which is better?
The short answer: both.
Watch The Odyssey first at Finnkino Itis for the overwhelming scale and thunderous sound of Finland's only IMAX screen. Then head to Bio Rex Lasipalatsi to experience Nolan's breathtaking cinematography projected from an authentic 70mm film print.
And do it in that order. The first screening is for pure, unadulterated awe. The second is for everything you missed: the narrative nuances, the astonishing visual detail, and the cinematic craftsmanship that brings Homer's epic to life.
Each format reveals something different. Together, they offer the closest experience to what Nolan set out to create. It may not be quite like hearing the Sirens' song, but it's close enough – you'll find yourself firmly tied to your seat until the credits roll.