SEVEN and a half YEARS is deeply autobiographical, charting a life shaped by early brilliance, profound responsibility, devastating illness and a hard-won return to creativity. Yet what could have felt heavy or overly earnest is instead moving, intimate and – surprisingly – uplifting. It is a powerful blend of songs, dialogue and soundscapes.

A sudden and unexplained breakdown left Mark with tinnitus, insomnia and muteness. For seven years, he lived in near-total isolation, spending up to 23 hours a day in silence. Survival itself felt uncertain. And yet, this is ultimately a story of return.