Blending historical reconstruction with very loosely linked ‘dramatic’ scenes and documentary sequences, the film constitutes a playful, painterly sequence of variations on the argument that Johann Sebastian Bach changed the way the world hears, thanks to his extraordinary ear for harmony.

Right from the initial prowl of a camera through an empty studio and toward a piano, this pensive feature from experimental Catalan director Pere Portabella explores the complex relationship between image and music. A strange and beautiful celebration of the role Bach’s music plays in the world.