Anima Mundi

Filmmaker Godfrey Reggio and composer Philip Glass (Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi) once again team up for an extraordinary audio-visual extravaganza. Drawing inspiration from a Platonic quote about the world spirit (which is what "Anima Mundi" means), Reggio has compiled a constantly moving tapestry of natural images: from the tiniest unicellular critters to majestic whales--a zoological smorgasbord. Moving away from the more minimalist sound which is his trademark, Glass' soundtrack alternates between the driving rhythms of percussion and lilting melodies from wood instruments. Unlike some nature music videos that slap a classical soundtrack on to some stock nature footage, Anima Mundi, which is presented in the letterboxed format, is a carefully constructed work that sets a new standard for nature music videos. Outstanding. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (Available from most distributors.)