From sound to life

Concept

Music and sound are essential components of a film's identity. They significantly shape how viewers perceive and understand a movie. From Sound to Life was created to highlight the importance of soundtracks in cinema by disrupting and reimagining the sonic landscape of iconic films.

In cinema, music can play a variety of roles. It can establish a sense of time and place through familiar sounds and melodies that evoke specific settings for the audience—a shamisen might immediately suggest Japan to Western viewers, while an accordion is often linked to Paris. Music also carries symbolic weight, especially through recurring character themes (for example, the Imperial March immediately signals Darth Vader’s presence—here, music alone represents the character). Soundtracks can also support narrative structure (as seen in Inception) and are frequently used to guide the viewer’s emotions.

From Sound to Life invites users to take control of iconic films and their soundtracks, blending them to create new and unexpected atmospheres. The installation offers a time-traveling experience: a 1960s radio serves as the interface, and all selected films were released between 1948 and 1964, spanning the globe—from the former USSR to Japan, as well as the U.S. and Europe. This post-war era was pivotal in cinema history, marking the end of black-and-white films and laying the foundations for modern film language.

All chosen film clips share a common theme: escape. To add surprise and contrast, additional musical excerpts complement the original soundtracks—ranging from classical pieces like Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, which immediately lends an epic tone, to unexpected tracks such as Iggy Pop’s King of the Dogs, which clash deliberately with both the era and the theme.

This interactive installation was exhibited at the Maison des Arts de Créteil (MAC) during the 2015 Exit Festival.