Black Sun

  • 70'
  • United Kingdom
  • 2005
In 1978, the French American painter and writer Hugues De Montalembert, a wealthy cosmopolitan in the prime of life, was attacked in his home by two men looking for money. They threw alkali in his eyes making him blind. De Montalembert's brain continued to make images. 'Vision is a creation, not a perception,' as he says. After a difficult period of anger and despair about his fate, about the reactions of well-meaning acquaintances, about the physical pain, the painter managed to take his own life back into his own hands. Usually, the composer of a film soundtrack only sets to work once the editing is more or less finished. In his film about De Montalembert, Gary Tarn had good reasons to work the other way around. Tarn himself started his career as a composer who experimented widely with pieces for spoken text and orchestra. He therefore started by recording the voice of De Montalembert, who tells his moving and, at first sight, even melodramatic life story. Tarn made a soundtrack to accompany this and only edited the pictures afterwards. Beautiful images such as those De Montalembert (who never appears on screen) could have on his retina, the world as he could see it. Black Sun, a sensual, experimental travelogue and sad meditation about identity, fate and perception in one, gives the viewer's own thoughts plenty of room. The film echoes, as they say. (GT)
  • 70'
  • United Kingdom
  • 2005
Director
Gary Tarn
Premiere
European première
Country of production
United Kingdom
Year
2005
Festival Edition
IFFR 2006
Length
70'
Medium
Betacam Digi PAL
Language
English
Producers
Passion Pictures, Landmedia, Gary Tarn, John Battsek
Sales
Cactus Three
Cinematography
Gary Tarn
Editor
Gary Tarn
Sound Design
Gary Tarn
Music
Gary Tarn
Cast
Hugues De Montalembert (commentary)
Website
http://garytarn.com
Director
Gary Tarn
Premiere
European première
Country of production
United Kingdom
Year
2005
Festival Edition
IFFR 2006
Length
70'
Medium
Betacam Digi PAL
Language
English
Producers
Passion Pictures, Landmedia, Gary Tarn, John Battsek
Sales
Cactus Three
Cinematography
Gary Tarn
Editor
Gary Tarn
Sound Design
Gary Tarn
Music
Gary Tarn
Cast
Hugues De Montalembert (commentary)
Website
http://garytarn.com