Live and vivid music will bring the documentary work of internationally renowned Italian director Folco Quilici to life at CQU Mackay on April 2.

The CQU Library Society presentation allows guitarist Mike Cooper to play original work throughout the film. Library Society member Pauline McNee urged movie buffs to experience the sensation of listening to live music while viewing the work of an award-winning documentary maker.

“The strong visuals combined with live music should add another dimension to the viewing experience because the musician is interacting and responding to the film in the same space as the audience,” she said.

“This truly unique experience is relatively new to Mackay, yet Mike has produced new pieces of original work for numerous classic films.”.

The docu-fiction film, The Last Paradise, tells the story of a young boy growing up on a Pacific island. His travels through the islands, his experiences in phosphate mines and plantations and his encounters with colonial culture lead to his coming of age.. Shot on Bora Bora, Tahiti and Niue, it is a visually stunning experience in glorious 1958 technicolour, a celebration of the Pacific and Polynesian culture, with a text of political, poetic and personal observations and anecdotes that are read to an accompanying live musical soundtrack by Mr Cooper.

The music comes from three of his recent recordings Kiribati, Globe Notes and New Hula Slide. Kiribati was voted one of the best ‘Outer Limits’ CDs of last year by the prestigious UK music magazine The Wire.

Tickets for the film cost $10 and $5 for CQU students and are available by phoning Kim at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music on 4940 7400.