CINETOPIA PRESENTS: ‘FINIS TERRAE’ ON TOUR
Jean Epstein’s 1929 silent drama reimagined with
live performance of a bold new, original score.
★★★★
“Edinburgh guitarist and score composer Dan Abrahams and French drummer Philippe Boudot echoed the flaring human drama and pounding elements as four seaweed harvesters are assailed by weather and a careless injury that turns nasty.”
— THE SCOTSMAN
On the treeless, windswept islet of Bannec off the Breton coast, four seaweed harvesters set up camp for the season, smoke billowing from their pyres of burning algae…
Tensions arise when the two younger men, Ambroise and Jean-Marie, fight over a broken wine bottle. Ambroise cuts his thumb on the glass and Jean-Marie accuses him of stealing his knife.
Tensions and distrust grow, as Ambroise’s cut becomes infected - unbeknownst to the other men - causing his work to become slow. When his condition worsens, Jean-Marie discovers him, delirious and feverish, and sets out for Ouessant island, across the fog-laden sea, to reach a doctor.
Shot in a documentary-style, using local non-actors, Jean Epstein’s camera reveals an unforgiving, isolated environment where men live a hard, rudimentary existence of toil against the sea and the elements.
Through experimental techniques, Epstein frames the landscape, the sky, and the waters in a highly poetic visual style, rich in atmosphere, and a dual sense of menace and beauty.
THE MUSICIANS
Daniel Abrahams: Composer, guitarist and double-bassist Daniel is deeply embedded in the Edinburgh folk, jazz and contemporary classical scenes where he lives. With his Scottish contemporary folk duo Dowally, he has soundtracked two Scottish archive films - ‘ReDrawing Edinburgh’ and ‘I Ken Whaur I’m Gaun’, as well as creating music for award-winning Belgium short ‘Les Racines de l’Eau’.
In 2024 he was commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra to write Hope In The Dark, featuring a percussion instrument made from bicycle wheels. The Scotsman wrote that "...the stylish mix of blues and jazz with a nod to Scottish folk music in a beguiling violin solo was captivating.”
Daniel is currently working with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra as part of their Film Composer Lab programme, as well as composing for ensembles such as Calton Consort and Butter Quartet.
Philippe Boudot: Born in Normandy, France, Philippe Boudot discovered the drums at 15. He trained both in London and at conservatories in Saint-Brieuc and Paris.
Drawing from a wide range of influences—from Afro-Cuban music, jazz, rock, and funk to Brazilian rhythms and repetitive electroacoustic music—his approach to drumming blends acoustic tradition with contemporary experimentation. His use of sampling, inspired by acts like the duo Bumcello, adds a distinctive texture to his performances. This versatility is reflected in his diverse collaborations, including touring with singer Clara Ysé for her latest album, performing jazz with Brame de Zéphyr, and playing with Samba de la Muerte both in France and internationally.
His connection to the UK music scene continues through his work with Dowally, with whom he recently performed at Glasgow's Celtic Connections festival.
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