Holy Cross Professor Writes Original Score for The Man Who Cried

WORCESTER, Mass. – Osvaldo Golijov, associate professor of music at Holy Cross, wrote the original score to the new feature film, The Man Who Cried. Directed and written by Sally Potter, the movie premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2000. It had its U.S. debut in New York City and Los Angeles on May 25.

The drama stars Johnny Depp, Cate Blanchett, John Turturro and Christina Ricci. It is about a young Russian Jewish refugee who flees from Germany to England during World War II. There, she meets a gypsy with whom she falls in love, a Russian dancer and an Italian opera singer.

Golijov was selected by Potter to compose and arrange the score for this movie, which is described as a unique combination of grand opera and Romanian Gypsy traditions. It features the debut recording of tenor Salvatore Licitra, the Kronos Quartet, and music by Romanian Gypsy band Taraf de Haïdouks.

Potter cites music as a major inspiration for the film: "A film can start from an image, a word, a feeling or a sound. In this instance, the original impulse came from music." She chose Golijov for the score based on a moving performance she saw of his arrangement, "Gloomy Sunday," by the Kronos Quartet. "I nearly fell off my chair… I decided there and then to ask Osvaldo to write the score."

The soundtrack is now available on Sony Music Soundtrax CD for purchase. Golijov's arrangements on the soundtrack include, "Je crois entendre encore," "Without a Word" and "Close Your Eyes." The Man Who Cried is being released one city at a time; it is due out in the Boston area in August.

An Argentine-born Jew, Golijov earned his Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the winner of the first prize at two Kennedy Center's Friedheim Awards, in 1993 for "Yiddishbbuk," and in 1995 for "The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind."

The world-renowned composer of "La Pasión Según San Marcos" (The Passion according to St. Mark), Golijov's "Passion" has received fantastic worldwide critical acclaim. Golijov was chosen by conductor Helmut Rilling to compose this original work for the 250-year commemoration of Bach's death. Only three other people on the planet were selected for this honor.