Le Cathédrale Engloutie. The Cathedral Under the Sea. A film made from the paintings of Ceri Richards and the music of Claude Debussy.

Credits over shot of coastline with cliffs. Ceri Richards sitting on slope above cliffs. Richards in his studio. VO explains that he has been working on series of paintings and collages based on Debussy’s theme of the submerged cathedral of Ys, the 1910 piano prelude La Cathédrale Engloutie. Painting representing the bells: the Celtic legend of bells ringing beneath the waves is shared by Brittany and Wales. Detail of painting, piano music begins over. Various paintings and collages in the series, one including a few bars of sheet music. Music gives way to sound of waves breaking; picture of painting fades into shot of coastline from beginning of film.

Produced by Samaritan Films for
The Arts Council Of Great Britain & Its Welsh Committee,
With assistance from Marlborough Fine Art Limited.
Music played by Kathleen Long;
Photography by Bill Smeaton Russell;
Westrex Sound System;
Directed by Dudley Shaw Ashton.