Lakeshore Records released Reaching for the Moon - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack digitally today. The soundtrack features original music by Marcelo Zarvos (Enough Said, The Words) for the film, directed by award-winning director Bruno Barreto. "In Reaching for the Moon (Flores Raras), I wanted the score to capture a love affair that was both delicate and tumultuous," said Zarvos. "Director Bruno Barreto (Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands, Four Days in September) did not want the sound to feel too geographically specific to late fifties Brazil, but rather to reflect the highly sophisticated world of two very talented women who were way ahead of their time."
Brazilian-born Marcelo Zarvos burst onto the indie film landscape in 2001 with his score for Kissing Jessica Stein. His trademark is a seamless blend of classical, orchestral, rock, electronic and various ethnic and folk elements, which together create a uniquely affecting and emotionally charged music. Zarvos was named one of the 25 New Faces of Indie Film in 2004 by FilmMaker Magazine.
Currently the composer of the hit new Showtime series Ray Donovan, Zarvos' recent film scores include Barry Levinson's The Bay, Daniel Barnz's Won't Back Down, David Mamet's Phil Spector, Lee Sternthal's The Words, and Nicole Holofcener's Enough Said. Zarvos's film credits include The Good Shepherd, Brooklyn's Finest, Sin Nombre, Remember Me, The Door in the Floor and Hollywoodland. He has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards (for You Don't Know Jack and Taking Chance) and an HMMA Award for Brooklyn's Finest.
Academy Award nominated filmmaker Bruno Barreto (Four Days in September, Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands) returns with a sophisticated tale of an unlikely romance between two extraordinary artists, set against the backdrop of political upheaval and a clash of cultures. Grappling with writer's block, legendary American poet Elizabeth Bishop (Miranda Otto) travels from New York City to Rio de Janeiro in the 1950s to visit her college friend, Mary (Tracy Middendorf). Hoping to find inspiration on Mary's sprawling estate, Elizabeth winds up with much more: a tempestuous relationship with Mary's bohemian partner, architect Lota de Macedo Soares (Glória Pires), that rocks the staid writer to her foundation. Alcoholism, geographical distance and a military coup come between the lovers, but their intimate connection spans decades and forever impacts the life and work of these two extraordinary artists. The attraction of two polar opposite women has rarely been so volatile and so erotically charged on the big screen.
"The film is also about loss as there is plenty of tragedy in both their lives," explained Zarvos. "A fun role of the music was to accompany some great poems by Elizabeth Bishop, most notably 'The Art of Losing,' which she recites in the opening and closing of the film."