Based on the novel by A.F. Th. van der Heijden, Life in One Day’s (original title: Het Leven Uit Een Dag) premise is that we live in a world where human life lasts for only one day. Flemish composer Johan Hoogewijs combines orchestra, electronics and solo instruments such as cello and piano. Just like the film itself, it’s a score that presents a broad range of emotions - all of them with a sense of honesty and despair...

Johan Hoogewijs’s soundtrack to Life in One Day is a thing of beauty. To condense so many themes and emotions over the the course of approximately an hour's worth of music is no mean feat.

What's most impressive about this score is that there are very few themes running through it. Most soundtracks rely heavily on themes which are revisited on numerous occasions, Hoogewijs doesn't stoop to padding out his score with the same material presented differently.

For me, highlights across these 28 tracks include:

'Sunrise' represents one of those classic movie themes - the sort that usually accompanies a visual montage of our hero's accomplishments over the space of the movie, or hints (as in this case) at what is to come.

'At the Museum' has a beautiful theme at it's core, and the emotions keep growing as the track progresses.

'Benny's Search for Gini' opens with a wonderful piano solo, which opens up slowly to incorporate the string section of the orchestra.

'Rosalie's Flair' is another mellow track which also has a John Barry quality to it.

'Gini With Man in Car' has a central section that is both eerie and hauntingly beautiful.

'Finally Meet Again' doesn't have a great start, but it soon builds to incorporate this album's one repeated theme, this time with added vocals. The finale ends you wanting more.

This soundtrack encapsulates so many emotions that everyone who loves classic soundtracks will find much here to enjoy.

9

Darren Rea