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Entertainment & Arts

Philip Glass discusses ‘Visitors,’ his most famous movie scores

Description: Godfrey Reggio's newest film explores a series of human faces -- and much more -- in a poetic, non-narrative way. Of special note: Glass has performed his score for Reggio's "Qatsi" trilogy live in concert, including a performance in 2011 at the Hollywood Bowl. The trilogy (and Glass' music) received the ultimate honor when they were parodied on Fox's "The Simpsons" in 2010. What Glass says about "Visitors": "It's got Godfrey all over it. It's interesting where he's going as a filmmaker. His movies aren't movies in the traditional sense, and they're not really documentaries either. Godfrey is the inventor of a genre. I don't know any filmmaker who doesn't know his work. He has a modesty that is almost severe. You know, he's been offered many movie jobs, but he's refused them all."


Description: Godfrey Reggio’s newest film explores a series of human faces -- and much more -- in a poetic, non-narrative way.

Of special note: Glass has performed his score for Reggio’s “Qatsi” trilogy live in concert, including a performance in 2011 at the Hollywood Bowl. The trilogy (and Glass’ music) received the ultimate honor when they were parodied on Fox’s “The Simpsons” in 2010.

What Glass says about “Visitors”: “It’s got Godfrey all over it. It’s interesting where he’s going as a filmmaker. His movies aren’t movies in the traditional sense, and they’re not really documentaries either. Godfrey is the inventor of a genre. I don’t know any filmmaker who doesn’t know his work. He has a modesty that is almost severe. You know, he’s been offered many movie jobs, but he’s refused them all.”
  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

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By David Ng

Philip Glass marks his fourth feature collaboration with experimental filmmaker Godfrey Reggio in the new documentary “Visitors,” an abstract survey of faces, cityscapes and other striking images set to the American composer’s signature minimalist style.

“Visitors,” which opens on Friday in New York and Feb. 14 in Los Angeles at the Nuart, is a poetic, nonlinear documentary, a surreal exploration of the mundane. For Glass, the movie marks his reunion with Reggio following their collaboration on the influential “Qatsi” trilogy -- Koyaanisqatsi (1982), Powaqqatsi (1988) and Naqoyqatsi (2002) -- which is much beloved by cinephiles (and many stoners, too).

Glass recently spoke by phone from New York about five of his most noted film scores, including his enduring soundtrack collaborations with Reggio.

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