filmzuiverheid

Filmzuiverheid is a term used in Dutch-language film studies to describe the ideal of purity in cinema, referring to the preservation or reproduction of a film in a way that remains faithful to the original material and intention. It encompasses fidelity to the original image and sound, minimal post-production interventions, and restraint in digital manipulation.

Practically, filmzuiverheid guides decisions in restoration and archival work: preserving original film stock characteristics such as grain, contrast, and color timing; avoiding aggressive digital cleaning, excessive color grading, or added effects that alter the perceptual content; and maintaining the original sound mix unless essential for intelligibility.

Historically, the concept emerges from debates within film preservation and auteurist criticism about authenticity and cinematic truth, especially when archival projects confront damaged sources or the availability of newer technologies.

Critics of strict filmzuiverheid argue that some post-production can enhance legibility, access, and interpretive potential, and that restoration is a form of curatorial interpretation rather than a simple retrieval of purity.

See also: film preservation, film restoration, authenticity in cinema, Dutch cinema studies.