The Independent on Sunday Free Film Screening

FRANCOIS GIRARD's film portrait of the reclusive and brilliant Canadian pianist, Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (U), takes its structure from his most famous work, J S Bach's Goldberg Variations. Each of the film's 32 vignettes, which span Gould's life from the age of four to his early death at 50, represents a variation on his life and work. 'The challenge was trying to figure out a man who was not there to testify for himself,' explains co-writer Don McKellar. 'We went out of our way to find different ways of showing aspects of Gould's life. Our goal was to avoid cliches and tell the story in the least predictable way.' The result, starring Colm Feore (right) as the adult Gould, is a mesmerising kaleidoscope, sometimes abstract, sometimes narrative, mixing actors with Gould's real-life friends and relatives,

and framed by Gould's own musical performances. Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould opens at cinemas in London on 17 June, but Electric Pictures invites readers of the Independent on Sunday to a special preview screening at the Barbican Cinema, London EC1, next Sunday (12 June) at 12.30pm. A pair of tickets to the first 175 readers to send a

large SAE to: Glenn Gould, Arts Desk, Independent on Sunday, 40 City Road, London EC1Y 2DB. Unused stamps go to charity.

(Photograph omitted)