Alabaster DePlume x 'Time of the Heathen' - VIDEODROOM 2026

Voor Videodroom 2026, British saxophonist, poet, and activist Alabaster DePlume chooses the thornily topical film Time of the Heathen (1961) — a rarely shown, impressive cult film that has lost none of its sharpness today. With a brand-new live soundtrack, DePlume enters into a dialogue with the film. 'Time of the Heathen' (1961) is a long-lost film gem by theater director Peter Kass. A poetic, surreal indictment of war violence, the nuclear arms race, and the devastating impact of racism. What begins as a rural noir with a typical 'wrong man' in the lead role gradually shifts into a chilling, proto-psychedelic trip. The film unfolds less as a classic narrative and more as a visual eruption in which the criticism of the consequences of disruptive American foreign policy and war logic strikes like a grenade. With hardly any dialogue and a strong emphasis on image and rhythm, a feverish allegory is created in which communication fails and meaning constantly shifts. The result is an intriguing, sometimes alienating viewing experience that forces the spectator to make connections themselves — in a universe where silence speaks louder than words. 'Time of the Heathen' is thus a visionary reflection on racial tensions and the post-nuclear trauma of post-war America. Camera and editing are by the legendary experimental filmmaker Ed Emshwiller, who is also responsible for the 20-minute dream sequence at the end. “When in doubt, yes.” With this sentence, Alabaster DePlume had already effortlessly won over a Ghent audience during his famous passage at the Theresia concerts a few years ago. The London-based saxophonist, singer, composer, and poet moves at the intersection of spiritual jazz, folk, and spoken word. His music is carried by warm, repetitive motifs and an open, intuitive playing style that can be both comforting and confronting. His breakthrough came with To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol. 1 (2020) (of which you might know the legendary 'Be Nice To People'?) followed by the acclaimed Gold: Go Forward In The Courage Of Your Love (2022) and later releases such as Come With Fierce Grace (2024) and A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole (2025). In addition, he worked with artists such as Bon Iver, Kamasi Washington, and Sampha. DePlume composes a new live soundtrack for 'Time of the Heathen' In dialogue with the image — and with the silence that is so characteristic of Time of the Heathen.