AllMovie

The centerpiece of this biographical documentary on celebrated Gallic composer Olivier Messiaen (1908-92) is an extended interview in which Messiaen discusses the two key influences on his classical composition: his devout Catholic faith, and the majesty of the natural world. Messiaen also delves into such subjects as: his relationships with the two most important women in his life (his wife, pianist Yvonne Loriod, and his mother, poet Cécile Sauvage); his tenure as an instructor at the exclusive Paris Conservatoire; the importance of tonal color and rhythm in his compositions; and much more. Loriod's on-camera performances of Messiaen's work and archival footage of Messiaen composing augment the central interview.