Robert Iolini, Composer

Mn is sleeping in bed. The sun is rising on another apparently normal day, outside the birds are singing. He begins to stir, there’s something odd about the birdsong - sounding more like a complex musical composition it gradually builds in intensity, as it reaches a crescendo Mn wakes up with a start. Everything returns to normal, or does it? To find out, we join Mn on a mysterious and at times surreal journey. A journey into a world in which Mn perceives everyday sounds as music. Through a series of mysterious interventions Mn is forced to confront the nature of reality and perception.

*Premiered at The 6th International Kansk Video Festival 7-10 September 2007 Kansk Russia

Duration: 14:08 min Aspect Ration: 16.9 Format: Pal colour
Cast: HaiHa Le as Sha - Chris Ryan as Mn - Krishnamurti as himself - Dr David Bohm as himself
Voices: Wei Zen Ho as Sha - Christopher Saunders as Mn
Cinematographer: Adrian Reinhardt
Shot on location in Sydney Australia. December 2005.
Edited in Byron Bay. February - March 2006
Original soundtrack composed and remixed by Robert Iolini from a Radiophonic composition commissioned by The Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Executive producer Robyn Ravlich
Recorded and Mixed at ABC studios Ultimo 2005

“Hello Mn. Are you alright?”
“Sorry, who is this?”
“I’m returning your call.”
“Sorry you keep dropping out.”
“No need to apologise. Are you OK? You sound a bit out of sorts.”
“What?
“You sound a bit out of sorts.”
“Well, I just had a strange dream about birds…..and then the shower….”
“What kind of birds?”
“What? I can’t hear you”
“Did you hear any crows?”
“Crows? Yeah I think so”
“Good”
“Listen what’s this about? I’ve got to go”
“Ok you go, my name is Sha. I’ll be in touch, and remember we’re here to help”
“What was that? Hello….hello”
Sha has hung up.

Scene 3 Krishnamurti TV 01’02”
Krishnamutri:
“As a human being I realise I’m neurotic, neurotic in the sense that I believe.”
“I believe in words, pictures and reality!”
“Who’s going to tell you?”
“Who is my authority? Who?”
“Authority in itself is disorder.”
“Can I completely change at the very root?”
Mn:
“Jesus Christ!
“How am I not to be I?”
“This is insane!”
“You say we’re all half crazy, demented, corrupt….Why?”
“I don’t believe this!”

Scene 5a Bar Infinity 00’58”

Krishnamutri: (On TV)
“As a human being I’m neurotic, neurotic in the sense that I believe.”
“I live in conclusions, in memories,”
“ ….. In words, pictures.”
“….which are all neurotic processes”
“…… and I believe in reality!”
Sha:
“Hello. Can I help you....? Hello. Can I help you......? Hello”
Mn is confused.
“Did you see that just then?”
“What?”
“The TV?”
“Don’t I know you?”
“Maybe”
“Are you alright? Can I get you something?”
“I think I need a doctor?”
“See that old guy in the corner; he used to be some kind of doctor. His name’s Dr Soul.”

Scene 5b Poker Machine Physics 02’14”

Mn:
“I think - I’m loosing - my reality”
Dr. Soul:
“In the quantum theory the object cannot be fixed apart from the act of observation”
Mn:
“But, but tell me.”
“Once you construct a reality. All sorts of events refer to it as is they are coming from that reality. You see.”
“It builds up a tremendous structure, a cloud around it of support.”
“Is this supposed to be helping me?”
“What happens is the illusion builds up very fast.”
“At some stage we construct realities that are not there.”
“Yeah?”
“Mentally we construct a psychological reality. Which seems intensely real.”
“I think a deeper question is how the mind sets up this sense of reality?”
“How can this help me?”
“I mean I look at things and sometimes I think they’re real…….and that’s an illusion.”
“What is it that thought does to give it that sense of reality?”
“God, I think I’m going to be sick”

Scene 6 Environmental Epiphany 03’40”

Sha:
“Come here. Listen”
Mn:
“Why? I don’t feel well.”
“We have something for you. It will help.”
“We?…Me?”
“Us…”
“What?”
“Listen.”

Krishnamurti:
“When one looks at the whole phenomena of man, in the East or the West. They seem to live in such utter chaos and tremendous sorrow, consciously or unconsciously. And until you go beyond that, merely to wait in expectancy, to be in a state of innocence. One can so easily deceive oneself.”
“The greatest and the most important thing in all this is the art of listening. The art of seeing very clearly. To observe without division. In the very act of listening I see the truth.”
“What we’re talking about is this form of attention of listening so completely. I’m not absorbed by what you’re saying, I’m actually totally listening. So that I want to see if what you say is false or true.”
“I’m absolutely listening.”
I must be able to discern the falseness in the truth, or the truth in falseness. I can’t if I’m in any way inclined towards a concept which I hold on to.”