Stapledon's Cult Book
Around 2010, the acclaimed Icelandic composer Jóhann Gunnar Jóhannsson embarked on an ambitious new project while simultaneously working on the score for Villeneuve's film 'Arrival'. He aspired to create a Gesamtkunstwerk – a complete artistic fusion of images, direction, and musical elements. For this project, he drew inspiration from Stapledon's cult novel 'Last and First Men' and developed a lyrical narrative featuring Hollywood actress Tilda Swinton as the narrator. The mesmerizing black-and-white 16mm footage of a decaying future world, shot in the former Yugoslavia, blends seamlessly with Jóhannsson's moving orchestral composition, on which he spent seven years refining. Tragically, Jóhannsson passed away in 2018 while completing this work. Berlin-based artist Yair Elazar Glotman supported the completion of the score, along with artists such as Hildur Guðnadóttir, members of the Theatre of Voices, and other long-time collaborators of the composer.
The composer worked with artists such as Hildur Guðnadóttir, members of the Theatre of Voices, and other long-time collaborators.