Music for the Movies: Toru Takemitsu

Described by one of his co-workers as having a face 'like Jean-Louis Barrault with diarrhoea', Japan's Toru Takemitsu commands a unique position as a leading contemporary composer who also works prolifically on film soundtracks. Deploying well-chosen clips and a number of distinguished interviewees (directors Teshigahara, Kobayashi and Oshima), Zwerin's film concentrates on Takemitsu's association with the '60s new wave of Japanese cinema, introducing new freedom in musical form and breaking the mould with his use of traditional Japanese instruments. Sound stuff.