Before he departed this world in 2018, Icelandic composer Jóhan Jóhannsson (Arrival) left behind this compelling evidence that his astonishing talents weren’t limited to the realms of music. His directorial debut/swan song comes by its Kubrick and Tarkovsky comparisons honestly. Furthermore, global circumstances have seen that the science-fiction spun here has become far more "plausible" than "speculative".

Through narration voiced by Tilda Swinton and adapted from Olaf Stapledon’s 1930 novel, we’re positioned two billion years in the future. As we gaze upon towering brutalist monoliths, we learn that humanity is all out of borrowed time. Sturla Brandth Grøvlen’s (Victoria) stunning 16mm black and white cinematography and Jóhannsson’s characteristically towering score conspire to elicit genuine awe as Last and First Men amasses emotional heft with each successive passage.

Ultimately, Jóhannsson has bestowed upon us one of the most immersive cinematic experiences in recent memory. You are right to mourn his loss, but don’t let that prohibit you from indulging in the dizzying wonder imparted by this stunningly realized union of sound and vision.