Ultimately releasing a film soundtrack tends to be a pretty thankless task useless you choose release said film with it, because by it’s very nature film music rarely stands alone. If it does it’s often too busy for the film. Of course there are exceptions like Mancini, Barry or Morricone who have been given a universal license for bombast, but in the main and particularly with independent films, the music tends to be understated, used to convey the unspoken emotional narrative of the characters.
So we’ve got the forty minute Dutch film Ooit from Jaap Van Heusden, which follows two days in the life of an intellectually disabled young man Jos, and his mother who cares for him alone. Their first day is characterised by routine, where even the slightest deviation causes uncertainty, fear and even aggression in Jos. The second demonstrates the effect that a deviation in this routine can cause for someone who has no concept of the outside word. It’s a fascinating film and the performances from the two leads are exceptional.
The music was composed by Minco Eggersman (aka Me, singer in the Dutch band At The Close Of Every Day) who’s sounds in the main are simple guitar based slow moving repetitious melodies with a slight tinge of electronics. It is however quiet deceptive because Eggersman layers in instruments like melodica, organ, piano, and vibraphone, using them to thicken out the sound as opposed to taking any lead roles. The music is understated, almost hesitant, and simple, reflecting the internal workings of the Jos character. The cues range from 50 odd seconds to slightly more complex two and a half to three minute pieces. In watching the film very few of the pieces stood out, acting almost incidentally to fill up a scene or convey movement. However there is one moment on the second day where filmed without judgement Jos is doing something that could be construed as horrific, yet the music comes in warm, childlike, and hopeful, and it provides a lightness to the scene and a window into his soul.
It’s not the kind of music that has enough variation or is interesting enough to maintain your attention on a purely audio level (aside form a couple of pieces), however when combined with the visuals it enters almost a subliminal emotional realm, and that’s when you realise the understated yet quite powerful and direct emotional truths woven into this music.
Bob Baker Fish
