The Infinite Cycles: Cinema with Philip Glass series celebrates the remarkable intersection of music and cinema, highlighting the importance of the American composer’s work in the cinematic universe. Philip Glass, one of the central figures of minimalism, brought a new sonic dimension to film, characterized by hypnotic repetition and the creation of deeply immersive atmospheres. Through the featured works, the audience is invited to dive into a sensory experience that transcends image and sound, evoking the fullness of both the human and the divine.

The series opens with “Koyaanisqatsi” (1982), by Godfrey Reggio, a masterpiece that merges lyrical cinematography with a musical composition of rare intensity. Glass’s music guides the film’s rhythm, transforming documentary imagery into a reflection on the relationship between humankind and the planet. The pulse of the minimalist melodies echoes the tension between relentless progress and natural balance, a cyclical dance of destruction and renewal. It is a visual and sonic meditation that finds the sublime in the immanence of the world.

Following this, “Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts” (2007), by Scott Hicks, offers an intimate look at the man behind the music. This documentary reveals the personal and artistic facets of Glass, exploring his working methods, the influences that shaped his musical vision, and the impact of his legacy on the contemporary cultural landscape. Through this portrait, we come to understand the depth of an artist constantly searching for new forms of expression.

The series concludes with “The Hours” (2002), by Stephen Daldry, where Glass’s score assumes the role of an invisible narrator. The composer enhances the dramatic intensity of this adaptation of Michael Cunningham’s novel, following the intertwined lives of three women searching for meaning and connection. The music, rich in emotional nuance, binds moments of anguish and redemption, creating a bridge between times and spaces.

Beyond celebrating Glass’s brilliance, this series also acknowledges the aesthetic convergence with Steve Reich, a pioneer of minimalism and one of Glass’s key collaborators in the 1960s. Glass’s rhythmically profound compositions resonate with the quest for transcendence through immanence, connecting the human to the divine in infinite cycles of melody and harmony. This is an invitation to listen to cinema with new ears and be carried away by the transformative power of music.

Come, join us!