Music For Film

From small beginnings in 1974 as a local cinema and university event, Film Fest Gent has grown yearly in stature and is now recognised as one of the major destinations for the film industry. A vital component is the celebration of film music in the shape of the World Soundtrack Awards which honours the very best composers at work in the world of cinema. In 2016 the award went to one of the most brilliant composers of his generation, Ryuichi Sakamoto.

This is the first overview of his remarkable catalogue of film scores, fully approved by the composer and performed by the masterful Brussels Philharmonic under the baton of Dirk Brossé. Sakamoto was already a celebrated pioneer in electronic music and composer/pianist/singer in Japan when director Nagisa Oshima asked him to write the score for Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence in 1983 and also to star alongside David Bowie. In a 30 year plus career since then he has worked with the cream of film directors including Bernardo Bertolucci (The Last Emperor), Brian De Palma (Snake Eyes), Pedro Almodovar (High Heels) and most recently Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (The Revenant).

This compilation is a fitting tribute to his status as one of the greatest living musicians and film composers.

Released: June 2023
Cat: SILLP1524YB
Label: Silva Screen Records

Listen

Tracklist

A Side
1. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence Main Theme (From Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence)
2. Endroll (From The Last Emperor)
3. Rain (From The Last Emperor)

B Side
1. The Sheltering Sky Main Theme (From The Sheltering Sky)
2. High Heels Main Theme (From High Heels)
3. Wild Palms Main Theme (From Wild Palms)

C Side
1. Acceptance (From Little Buddha)
2. Snake Eyes Main Theme (long version) (From Snake Eyes)
3. Bolerisch (From Femme Fatale)

D Side
1. Bibo No Aozora (From Babel)
2. Small Hope (From Hara-Kiri (Ichimei))
3. Yae No Sakura Opening Theme (From Yae No Sakura)
4. The Revenant Main Theme (From The Revenant)