Storyline

The movie captures the responses of 31 authors, musicians, filmmakers and dancers to Olivier Messiaen's monumental organ work "Apparition of the Eternal Church." Listening to the 10-minute piece through headphones, the documentary subjects-most of whom are outsiders to the church and do not know what they're hearing-put Messiaen's project to the test: Is it possible to portray, through time-bound, invisible sound, the spiritual, the architectural, the eternal? The result is a collective interpretation improvising its way through an aesthetic landscape defined by violent contradictions. Resolution abuts eternity, eroticism asceticism, spiritual ecstasy physical torture. Together, the music and its interpreters conjure something like what William Blake famously called the marriage of heaven and hell.

Key Information

Director Paul Festa
Language EN
Budget $7,500

Cast & Crew

John Cameron Mitchell

John Cameron Mitchell

Self

Jackie Beat

Jackie Beat

Self

Justin Vivian Bond

Justin Vivian Bond

Self

Ana Matronic

Ana Matronic

Self

Daniel Handler

Daniel Handler

Self

Frequently Asked Questions

Apparition of the Eternal Church was released on January 28, 2006.

The runtime of Apparition of the Eternal Church is 54m.

Apparition of the Eternal Church is a Documentary movie.

Apparition of the Eternal Church is available to watch. Check streaming platforms and theaters near you.

Apparition of the Eternal Church was directed by Paul Festa.

The main cast of Apparition of the Eternal Church includes John Cameron Mitchell, Jackie Beat, Justin Vivian Bond.

Apparition of the Eternal Church is originally in English.