Course on Unheard Melodies: Film Music in the 21st Century

Have you recently left a cinema with the film's music echoing in your mind? It's likely been a while. While we associate film music with the unmistakable, singable sounds of composers like John Williams (E.T., Harry Potter) and Ennio Morricone (Once Upon a Time in the West), contemporary soundtracks seem to leave little room for memorable melodies. This event is the second session of a four-part course titled 'The Style of Film'. The style of modern film music is characterized by textures and repetitive patterns, whether you're listening to Christopher Nolan's Batman films or intimate arthouse dramas like All of Us Strangers. What shaped this development, and can we find catchy film melodies today? Kevin Toma will help you uncover the answers. COURSE | THE STYLE OF FILM How does a film's style develop? Film journalist Kevin Toma (de Volkskrant) decodes this across four evenings with surprising excerpts from classics and contemporary cinema. A playful yet in-depth course for anyone who enjoys watching films and wants to understand why they resonate. SESSION 1 | 04-11 SESSION 3 | 02-12 SESSION 4 | 16-12 ABOUT KEVIN TOMA Kevin Toma, born in Sittard in 1974, studied film studies in Nijmegen. He began writing film reviews for Filmkrant and later worked as a web editor for VPRO Cinema. Currently, he teaches film and writes as a film critic for various outlets including de Volkskrant. He regularly conducts film courses and introductions across the country, including at Natlab. In 2024, he received the Louis Hartlooper Oeuvreprijs for his contributions to Dutch film culture.