Karl-Birger Blomdahl

Swedish composer Karl-Birger Blomdahl’s image-sound composition Altisonans is an experimental film addressing the relationship between Earth and space. The word ‘Altisonans’ can be translated as ‘that which resounds from space.’ The film was initially made for Swedish television, where it premiered on 25 September 1966, and was the first time the composer transposed a sonic idea into visual material.

Joergen (Per Myberg) is the Swedish journalist who uncovers a gun-running operation on the borders of Vietnam. The trail leads to a financial group of wealthy industrialists lead by Magnus Rud (Max von Sydow). He refuses to bury the story, leading to trouble for the idealistic reporter and his girlfriend Christine (Lena Granhagen) in this political drama about the war machine and freedom of the press.

Swedish composer Karl-Birger Blomdahl’s image-sound composition Altisonans is an experimental film addressing the relationship between Earth and space. The word ‘Altisonans’ can be translated as ‘that which resounds from space.’ The film was initially made for Swedish television, where it premiered on 25 September 1966, and was the first time the composer transposed a sonic idea into visual material.