MY EPIC COMTEMPLATIVE MOVIE OST

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I will share with you my passion for movie soundtracks ! For those who know me, no, we’re not going to talk about Hans Zimmer. Later for sure, but not today. I’m in the mood to share with you my epic contemplative OST playlist !

To put it simply, they are films that have, for me, a contemplative artistic aspect through the production, photography and especially the soundtrack, which for me makes all the quality of the film. I am very sensitive to this kind of artistic films that through music takes you into an emotionally intensified universe and where words are no longer needed, our soul is transported into a transcended world, pure, boundless. Why adding the epic therm? I realized that I only put films dealing with war or at least revolts and scenes of fighting.

HOSTILES

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Revisionist western film of 2017 directed by Scott Cooper. The story takes place in 1892 and tells the story of legendary captain Joseph Blocker (Christian Bale) reluctantly agreeing to escort Yellow Hawk, the dying Cheyenne warlord (Wes Studi), and his family to tribal lands.

Beyond the story, what struck me in this film is the resilience of the main characters to fight the internal demons of their past while overcoming their prejudices.

The music created by Max Richter holds your breath all the film. Who might be a simple medley in the first listening, the repetitive and slow music brings depth to the beautiful photographic work and emotionally supports the very good actors’ performances. The musical evolution who begins dark and disturbing evolves into a redemption and a fragile feeling of hope which finds its apogee at “Never Goodbye” score.

The music conveys the emotions, the internal reflections and the duality of feelings of Captain Joseph Blocker. Through the amazing performance Christian Bale give us, we hope, we doubt, we cry with him without a single word being spoken. Everything happens in silence, in the looks and it makes the sensations even more intense.

THE KING

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The King is a historical drama directed by David Michôd released in 2019. This is the adaptation of the works of William Shakespeare, including two historical plays Henry IV and Henry V (The Chronicle History of Henry the Fifth). He has been online on Netflix since November 1st.

While watching the trailer on Netflix my curiosity was piqued. The trailer uses the soundtrack of the film “Ballade in C # Minor: Coronation” created by Nicholas Britell. The tragic and royal effect is masterfully rendered. If we put aside the facts related far too far from the historical reality. We sit in the accession to the throne of a prince who refuses the crown and who wants to stand out from his father’s reign while doubting the trust of his advisers. We are witnessing the evolution of a young man who has the weight of a crown and the consequences of his decisions in his life and those subjects. One feels the utopian ideals of doing good without implying the sacrifice of his subjects gradually give way to doubts and bloody outbursts. All this ambiguity is retransmitted judiciously by Timothy Challamet. The music, under its medieval-inspired areas, tends towards a tragic and deep minimalism highlighting the narration of the film. Everything is done to convey a theatrical sense, be it the photographic work, the scenes of battle and the quality of realization of the costumes. The music support the ensemble without being too present and makes it a better quality film.

MICHAEL KOHLHAAS

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Michael Kohlhaas, played by Mads Mikkelsen, is a Franco-German historical drama directed by Arnaud des Pallières. It is the fourth adaptation of Heinrich von Kleist’s eponymous novel published in 1810. The film was released in theaters in 2013.

In the sixteenth century, Michael Kohlhaas is a horse merchant, of German origin, who settled in the Cevennes in France. While selling animals at a fair, he ran into a local baronet, who decided to set up a toll on his land. Having no money on him, the merchant leaves two horses and a valet, Caesar, to take care of it. The animals are mistreated by the baron’s men and the valet, who tries to oppose it, is assaulted by dogs released on him. Michael Kohlhaas will then start a revolt in order to obtain compensation.

What impressed me the most is the slowness of the film. Qualified as a disadvantage by some critics, I find it fair and bear the story told. The interpretation of Madds Mikkelson, speaking with a French accent takes us into a world of justice and revolt in an Westerns atmosphere taking place in the wild and rocky scenery of the Cevennes. The photographic work, the lights’ game, the costumes’ simplicity and the music make it an author’s film you must watch.

Obviously, we find the epic contemplative side in the main character of Michael Kohlhaas rather than in the soundtrack. However, the slow and basic musical combination composed by Martin Wheeler interspersed in collaboration with the Medieval / Renaissance songs of The Witches makes no doubt about the authenticity and temporality of the story.

So yes the number of epic / contemplative films is not up to three, but it is a beautiful representation of what I like in this kind of films. Feel free to share with me your list of similar films. I will be happy to see them if it’s not already done.