Speed Cinema Presents: In Pursuit of Silence
Friday, August 11, 7:00 pm
Speed Art Museum Cinema
Directed by Patrick Shen
“Reminiscent of seeing 1982’s Koyaanisqatsi for the first time. . . . It incessantly inspires and sometimes take the breath away.”—Wayne Alan Brenner, Austin Chronicle
In Pursuit of Silence is a meditative exploration of silence and the impact of noise on our lives. The film takes us on an immersive cinematic journey around the globe—from a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto to the streets of Mumbai during festival season (the loudest city on the planet) to the anechoic chamber at Orfield Labs in Minneapolis (the quietest place on earth)—and inspires us to both experience silence and celebrate the wonders of our world.
The film is anchored around artist and composer John Cage’s ground-breaking three-movement composition 4’33”, a work that instructs the performers to not play their instruments throughout the duration of the work. The audience hears the ambient sound around the musicians during the four minutes and 33 seconds. A selection of the SXSW Film Festival. 2016, U.S., DCP, in English and Japanese with English subtitles, 81 minutes.
Don’t forget to bring your Speed Art Museum membership card to verify your membership.