May 24, 2006

Tech News: 3D Inventions Leave Hungarians Seeing Double

That's just typical. You wait for years for one story about Hungarians inventing three-dimensional entertainment to come along, and then two roll up at once. The first one, already in English, cosies up to Holografika, a company responsible for holographic technology that makes staring at a TV screen just like looking out of window, or at least that's the principle. The second, and completely unrelated case of 3D film, is a movie that was originally made in 1953 screened last week at the University of Gödöllö. The documentary, entitled "Sporting Youths", was the first to be shot with two cameras and to require the viewer to wear those dorky coloured glasses.

The 23-minute flick was one of four made by 3D pioneer Félix Bodrossy, who had a special auditorium constructed in the Toldi , where his works played to full houses. Unfortunately for him, he didn't get a patent for his invention, so the technology was appropriated around the world and he didn't see a single forint - even though his idea is still in use today. To make matters worse, by the time his athletics-themed masterpiece was completed - it took Bodrossy five years - the cinema had closed and he ws left to take the film home to gather dust. From there, it found its way into the National Film Archive, before it was rediscovered by university teacher Miklós Molnár in time for Thursday night's screening - and Hungary's other big 3D story.

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