Wes Anderson is pictured left on set with Buchanan Optometrists' Alisdair Buchanan
Kent-based Buchanan Optometrists was invited to adapt and restore a selection of vintage eyewear for American film director Wes Anderson’s latest movie.
Anderson’s The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is a 39-minute adaptation starring A- list actors like Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, and Richard Ayoade.
Based on Roald Dahl’s 1977 anthology, the film was shot entirely in Kent, primarily at Maidstone Studios and the Maidstone Business Hub on the river.
The practice team adapted and restored each original, fragile and sometimes inflammable piece to its original glory using specialised techniques, such as hand polishing and acetone polishing.
The team also supplied virtually reflection-free lenses, sourced globally to high standards, ensuring that the eyewear complemented but also enhanced the artistic vision of the period film.
‘Sometimes, we had only a few hours to make the impossible possible, but we did it,’ said practice co-owner, Alisdair Buchanan. ‘It was an absolute pleasure to work in sync with the dedicated crew and to contribute to this cinematic masterpiece.’
Buchanan Optometrists, led by husband and wife team Alisdair and Kathryn Buchanan, has a track record for adapting and restoring eyewear, making ‘silent but impactful’ contributions to both classic and modern-day cinema.