async - first light (2017)

Introduction
"async - first light" is a 2017 brief experimental movie based on Ryuichi Sakamoto's album "async". Directed by Zakkubalan (John Torres and Nejc Prah), the unconventional film is a collection of visual stories that enhance the audios from the album. Known for their bold and imaginative expressions in animations and graphics, Zakkubalan takes Sakamoto's first album in eight years and adds a visual representation to it that mirrors the album's exploration of life, death, and the transitional states in between.

Plot and Structure
The plot of "async - first light" doesn't follow the traditional sense of a movie having a beginning, a climax, and an end. Instead, it utilizes visual imagery to represent different layers of human life and existence against the audio background of Sakamoto's album. The film is made up of layers of stories that link and take turns to come to the surface area, typically playing out simultaneously, comparable to the way in which realities in life do not have a direct pathway.

Onscreen Presentation
"async - first light" presses the borders of traditional movie theater with its audio-visual design that combines abstract and realistic imagery to weave a meditative narrative. There are scenes representing life, nature, and a range of abstract environments, often filled with philosophical ponderings. The visuals are often calm and serene, other times chaotic and busy, matching the tones and the sentiments of Sakamoto's music.

Score and Music
Ryuichi Sakamoto's album "async" provides itself as the film's score and is a main part to the story. An amazing work of music production, it is a sonic exploration of life's consistent state of flux, drawing upon components from various landscapes, communities, and frequencies to create a remarkable acoustic experience. In the movie, the music and visuals combine to develop an audio-visual synergy, promoting both the senses of sight and hearing simultaneously.

Styles and Messages
"async - first light" includes a variety of styles such as life, death, shift, buoyed by the music that reflects these states. The movie's analysis of the music in its visual narrative explores concepts of presence, the elements of the cosmos, and the nature of the human soul. There is a clear intent to provoke idea, evoke emotion and promote self-reflection.

General Assessment
"async - first light" is multifaceted and multi-layered in its storytelling, utilizing abstract visuals and Ryuichi Sakamoto's rating to lead the plot. It can be viewed as a profound meditation on life and death or an experimental presentation of audio-visual narrative. The movie acts as a homage to Sakamoto's work, with Zakkubalan interpreting it in a way that matches the special rhythm and pacing of the music. Often visually challenging, this short movie invites audiences into a reflective journey through life, death and everything in between, leaving viewers with much to contemplate upon long after the credits roll.

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