Imagineyou’redreaming,andinyourdreamyoupickaflowerinheaven,andthenyouwakeupwiththeflowerinyourhand.ThisisthekindofexperiencethatcomposerMaxRichterhopestomakepalpableamongtheaudienceforSleep,aneight-hour-longpieceofmusicthatexploresoftheliminalspacebetweenwakefulnessandsleep,betweenconsciousnessandsubconsciousness.TakingasitschronologicalguideanambitiousoutdoorperformanceofthecompositionincentralLosAngeles,thissalubriousfilmimmersesusinthemakingofthepiece,andinthelifeofitscomposer.Hiswife,artistYuliaMahr,ishismainstayinbothhisprivateandprofessionallife.Fromherwords,it’sclearthatgrand,intenseartsuchasthiscannotcomeintobeingwithoutsomesacrifice.Thefilmmakespalpablethesenseofbeingpresentattheperformance,partlythroughmanyvisitors’exquisitelywell-formulateddescriptionsoftheirexperiences.Shotsoftheaudiencelyingoncampingbeds—somealone,othersentwinedwithalovedone—floworganicallyintoshotsofthemusicians,interviewsandnocturnalcity.Andallthisisaccompaniedbytheenchantingmusicitself.