Due to its profound emotional weight, the piece is frequently used to soundtrack scenes of tragedy, memory, or deep reflection.
: It is written for a string quintet (two violins, two cellos, and one viola) and is characterized by a slow, hauntingly minimalist structure.
: Include Stranger Than Fiction , The Handmaid’s Tale , and the 2025 film Hamnet .
: Featured in the critically acclaimed third episode, "Long, Long Time".
: Perhaps its most famous use, appearing at both the beginning and end of the film to underscore themes of time and loss.
: Richter has released multiple versions, including an "Orchestral Version" and a newer "Entropy" version for the album’s 15th anniversary. Notable Film and TV Appearances
The work was composed as a quiet, "anti-war" protest against the 2003 invasion of Iraq, intended to explore the fragility of truth and the persistence of beauty.
is a contemporary classical masterpiece by German-British composer Max Richter . Originally released in 2004 on his second solo album, The Blue Notebooks , the piece has since become one of the most iconic and recognizable compositions of the 21st century. Musical Composition & Intent