U2 3D

Institute History

  • 2008 Sundance Film Festival

Description

It goes without saying that U2 3D is not merely a concert film; it is a concert experience—and one that will leave you fumbling around on the ground for your jaw. An electrifying collage of South American stadium concerts during U2’s 2006 tour, U2 3D mobilizes digital 3-D and surround-sound technology to plunge us into almost supernatural proximity to the musicians. Whether it’s dropping into The Edge’s sonic orbit or passing over the crowd through a sculptural sea of outstretched arms, we’re no longer on the outside looking in, but on the inside looking in—a perspective shift whose novelty is at first delightfully odd, and then pure revelation. The sense of intimacy with the audience is uncanny, as if Bono has stepped right off the screen to spend a moment with us, his extended hand mere inches from our face. Featuring songs that have touched fans for years, from “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “One” to ”Beautiful Day” and “Vertigo,” U2 3D establishes a visceral bond that’s completely unprecedented in film.

U2 has always understood the power of multisensory engagement in conveying its message, in this case, coexistence, so it’s not surprising that the band would be inspired to explore the immersive possibilities of 3-D. Call them polarized or rosy, from behind these glasses, the world may indeed be a place of peace and hope.

— Caroline Libresco and John Nein

Screening Details

As you use our Online Archives, please understand that the information presented from Festivals, Labs, and other activities is taken directly from official publications from each year. While this information is limited and doesn't necessarily represent the full list of participants (e.g. actors and crew), it is the list given to us by the main film/play/project contact at the time, based on the space restrictions of our publications. Each entry in the Online Archives is meant as a historical record of a particular film, play, or project at the time of its involvement with Sundance Institute. For this reason, we can only amend an entry if a name is misspelled, or if the entry does not correctly reflect the original publication. If you have questions or comments, please email [email protected]