Score for “A Paradise Lost”

Laurie Sumiye’s film A Paradise Lost tells the story of Hawaiʻi’s endangered Palila, a native bird whose population has been decimated over hundreds of years. The film combines live-action footage and animation in recounting the history of the Palila, focusing on the landmark 1979 court case “Palila v. Hawaiʻi,” in which the lead plaintiff – a stuffed Palila specimen – sued the State of Hawaiʻi for negligence to its native habitat.

The music, which makes frequent reference to the Palila’s own calls, is scored for violin, shakuhachi, piano and percussion.

The film is scheduled for release in late 2021.