Hanan Townshend‘s journey from college student to frequent collaborator with Terrence Malick didn’t involve high-powered agents, or rubbing shoulders with the director at a fancy cocktail party. Rather, it was Townshend answering a simple, generic classified ad that led to him working in the music department on “The Tree Of Life.” And from there, Townshend became a Malick regular, scoring “To The Wonder” and “Knight Of Cups,” along with “The Better Angels,” which was produced by the filmmaker. Now, another film bearing Malick’s input as producer is arriving, Julio Quintana‘s “The Vessel.” It will also boast a score from Townshend, and today we have an exclusive preview of the composer’s work.
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Starring Martin Sheen, the story follows a young man who starts building a mysterious structure out of the remains of a school after a tidal wave ravages a small town. It’s a picture that looks like it’ll explore themes of survival, spirituality and philosophy that are constants in Malick’s work, and Townshend’s music here is as majestic and evocative as we’ve come to expect. “Finale (excerpt),” “I Want To Sail It,” and “Awakening” all provide a strong look at Townshend’s bold and soaring approach.
“The Vessel” opens on September 16th, and the soundtrack will be released on September 9th.