Did you know that Philip Glass is This American Life host Ira Glass’s first-cousin-once-removed? That’s probably the least interesting thing that you’ll discover about the life and work of one of the most important living composers if you come to Live Arts’ screening of Glass: A Portrait of Philip in 12 Parts this Sunday the 11th at 2 PM at ICA. Here’s the trailer of the film, by the Academy Award-winning director of Shine, Scott Hicks:

The film is being shown as part of our own three-part documentary film series to provide context for the September performances of Lucinda Childs’s Dance, with video by Sol Lewitt and music by Philip Glass, at the Live Arts Festival. Co-creator of the series Emma Ferguson says, “‘Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts’ is the result of eighteen months of interaction between director Scott Hicks and composer Philip Glass. Hicks shot his own footage of his meetings with Glass, which took place whenever and wherever their different work brought them together. Hicks filters fragments of Glass’s life through a 12-part structure borrowed from Glass’s own ‘Music in Twelve Parts,’ and the result is a reverent yet unclouded portrait of a brilliant composer and an inscrutable man.”

It’s going to be 90 degrees on Sunday, but ICA is air-conditioned. Glass will be introduced by oboist and English hornist Lloyd Shorter, co-director of Relâche Ensemble. Run time is 120 minutes, and the event is free. Please RSVP at rsvp@livearts-fringe.org.

–Ellen Freeman