Koyaanisqatsi - Life Out of Balance
(Unrated, 1:26:04, Released 1982)
| Genres: | Documentary, Special Interest |
| Release Date: | Feb 1, 1983 |
| DVD Release Date: | Sep 17, 2002 |
| Starring: | Philip Glass |
| Directed by: | Godfrey Reggio |
| Synopsis: | An art-house circuit sensation, this feature-length documentary is visually arresting and possesses a clear, pro-environmental political agenda. Without a story, dialogue, or characters, Koyaanisqatsi (1983) (the film's title is a Hopi word roughly translated into English as "life out of balance") is composed of nature imagery, manipulated in slow motion, double exposure or time lapse, juxtaposed with footage of humans' devastating environmental impact on the planet. Starting with an ancient rock wall painting, the film moves through sequences depicting clouds, waves, and other natural features, then into man-made landscapes such as buildings, earth-altering construction machinery, and cars. The message of director Godfrey Reggio is clear: humans are destroying the planet, and all of human progress is pointlessly foolish. Also notable for its intense, atmospheric score by new age composer Philip Glass, Koyaanisqatsi (1983) was a labor of love for Reggio, who spent several years filming it. The film was followed by sequels, Powaqqatsi (1988), Anima Mundi (1991) and Naqoyqatsi (1999). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi |
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Other Top Reviews
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May 6, 2012
This just might be the greatest non-narrative film of all time. It might not have a plot, and the script was probably more like an outline of the various sequences, but there's definitely a story here.
Composed entirely of various footage of both natural and human environments set to the brilliant and haunting music of Philip Glass, Koyaanisqatsi (it's Hopi for "life out of balance", this is a look at our world, the juxtapositions between man and nature, and the fact that man is winning, and nature isn't. That's the story, and the film itself, right there.
It somehow manages to be both straightforward and simple, yet have so much going on. And it's all done without dialogue (save for some postscript at the end). That is an amazing feat right there, and I feel like a better person for finally sitting down and giving this celebrated art house gem a watch.
Sure, Herzog did some stuff like this before 1983, but this film really set a standard for artsy, somewhat pretentious experimental pieces that could be appreciated by the masses as well as the elite. The cinematogrphy by Ron Fricke is, brilliant and pretty innovative (especially for the time), and this is one of the best experiecnes I've gone through in a while.
That's also the best way to treat this film. It's an experience more than anything, and I could easily see this playing in an art galelry or something. I really dug what all involved did here, but the film does seem to run out of steam here and there, and for very brief moments ,this truly felt like a gimmick. That didn't last too long though thankfully. It's weird, since even though I thought this ran out of steam (depsite being just under 90 minutes), I'd love to know how much footage was cut out, and I'd like to see it as well.
Give this a watch, even if only once. It's a really special and unique film, and I feel like each person needs to have a surreal, ethereal experience like the kind this film provides. -
February 2, 2011
Visually and metaphorically very good. I especially liked the comparison between the sausages and humans. Very interesting but not something to watch for entertainment. We are destroying this world. Nature vs. humans.
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November 2, 2010
koyaanisqatsi highlights our subconscious obsession with capitalism and is a propaganda film / koyaanisqatsi is a sinister yet sarcastic comment on the destructive nature of the human race and highlights their constant delusions of self-importance / koyaanisqatsi is a collection of beautifully photographed shots accompanied by a beautifully composed score / koyaanisqatsi is Man With A Movie Camera Circa 1982 *Please delete according to preference*
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March 29, 2008
An amazing movie, almost life captured in all its character.
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November 22, 2007
Great post-pub chillout ambient cinema. Haunting music with magical time-lapse photography takes you on a breathtaking cinematic tour of life on Earth. The few scenes of city life that date this movie just add to its charm, as a window of life in the 70s.
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July 11, 2007
Great hypnotizing Philip Glass music. The visuals in the desert and city are great. I didn't care much for the industry or the spiralling rocket fuselage; maybe that was the point of the movie. It's not fast-paced like MTV - expect to be lulled into a dreamlike state through some slow parts of this.
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April 14, 2009
Koyaanisqatsi is mesmerising. It's an avant-garde work with purpose and substance that also succeeds as entertainment.
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February 1, 2009
Intellectual, avant-garde, non-narrative visual music. From ancient Hopi rock wall painting, sweeping into imagery and cinematography of indelible panoramic juxtapositions and contrasts producing a magic, emotional, passionate rhythm. Hopi prophecy is echoed throughout Philip Glass's score, which stands on its own as a powerful composition.
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October 5, 2008
Every time I started to get bored, some new shot would blow my mind. The sheer beauty of the film and the visceral thrill I got from watching it was amazing.
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February 8, 2008
A perfect balance of music and visuals. Awesome and thought provoking.
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January 31, 2007
Excellent cinematography! Highly recommended for photographers!
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August 8, 2010
Although Koyaanisqatsi may not be everyone's cup of tea, it is a film that everyone should experience at least once. You will note that I said "experience," and not "see," because Koyaanisqatsi is definitely an experience: An almost hypnotizing blend of images (largely timelapsed) and music, Koyaanisqatsi is a contrast of nature verses technology.
The trailer for Koyaanisqatsi states that "Until now, you've never really seen the world you live in." I would add that after viewing this film, you will never get the name of it out of your head.
Koyaanisqatsi is definitely worth buying. (A+) -
May 19, 2010
This film should be viewed by all of humanity. The beginning of time, the end of time. Beauty, purity, earth at conception. Will we be here tomorrow? Why were we here yesterday? The clouds show the replay of our actions. The sky cries with sorrow, rages in fury, throws a tantrum like a child, demands our complete attention, begs for us to stop the abuse, lashes out in pain, and shouts at us to help save the very life it hangs above. The waters rage in disgust, overflow with sickness, disappear with neglect, and shout for help. The land quits producing, shifts with discomfort, dries up and wrinkles, angrily retaliates, shouts in pain, complains of poisoning, screams to be heard. The plants hide in fear, die without hope, spread their worry, and disappear through the hand of another. Man ignores all the cries, pleading, shouting, hiding, dying, rebellion, anger, rage, tantrums, complaints and illness. Man keeps taking and taking with no conscience to give back. Man walks the earth as the most intelligent creature, so it is said. In a realistic look man is really the most unintelligent of creatures. The mind is there but they don't use it. The ability to learn from their mistakes is there but that too is wasted.
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September 23, 2009
What a brilliant film! Fascinating from start to finish. Just amazing. The cinematography is great, the visual images are unforgettable. A unique and wonderful movie.
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August 6, 2009
only for the absolutely amazing shots and score. other than that you can cut the elitism with a butter knife.
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June 7, 2009
There are some really cool images in this film, but the movie seems more like a stock footage project (lets see how many interesting shots we can get and make it into a movie).
The film didn't need to be 86 minutes long; the tempo of the editing, and its structure, is all over the place. I'd be interested in editing the highlights of the film down to 30 minutes or less; future project?
The music is decent, it backs up the imagery very well (it's not amazing though). Pruit Igoe is probably the best part of the film; even though it's used far better in other trailers (GTA4 and Watchmen) than it is here. -
May 2, 2009
Nothing like it, truly unique experience. The vastness of what is american and corprate power. Its not a quick flashy fix. Really you need to take this journey, relax and meditate as you watch the world from a different veiw. What have we become?
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February 13, 2009
Wonderful fusion of music and image. Philip Glass's score is great and the photography is incredible.
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December 18, 2008
Relatively odd, seems pretty boring until the end where its point is made clear. Sure it's implied the whole time, but I'm tired.
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December 8, 2008
And from the out-of-fucking-nowhere category comes Godfrey Reggio's Koyaanisqatsi. The film is the first in a trilogy of films, all scored by Philip Glass, which are comprised of solely images and music, with really nothing else guiding it. In face, Reggio talks scarcely about the themes present in Koyaanisqatsi, perhaps out of some fear of tainting the film with meaning, but it has meaning, and it's easy to see. It doesn't hurt Koyaanisqatsi's credit that it's absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. It was shot by cinematographer Ron Fricke, who would go on to direct several of his own films in a similar format to Koyaanisqatsi. As the movie zooms out on the opening image of a Hopi Indian wall painting, and the music (perhaps a bit too overbearing) swells in and lets us enter the universe, its the cinematic equivalent of the harnesses swinging down at the start of a roller coaster. After everything is secured, the film rockets out of the gate, swirling us through vast untouched landscapes, taking us through the clouds, letting in images of humanity (without invitation) after what seems like an endless viewing of sterility, and then immersing us in time-lapse and quick passing images of modern marvels and human life. It's incredibly easy to get lost in Koyaanisqatsi, and that isn't because it's devoid of any plot or characters. It's hypnotic in the way it is shot, in the way it is scored, and in the way it is pieced together. The duration of the film is a moving and completely humbling experience, one which asks no direct questions but demands the answers to so much. To go on and on about the thematic elements of the film would really serve no purpose; at the point when Koyaanisqatsi ends, they are apparent as they whisp away on the smoke of the final crashing rocket ship that envelops the screen. It is tragic and beautiful and it is a fantastic film.
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October 21, 2008
A dizzying experience - an intelligent piece of film-art created by an extremely talented group of people.
This is an opera of fluid visuals - practically wordless (if not for the flashing collage of billboards & television content) and though it's meant to stimulate the mind with a message, it leaves what that message is up to you & your interpretation.
The cinematography is astonishing, and brilliantly paired with an original score that is near perfection. The highlight being the second half, which is much like seeing society from another planet through a Fisher-Price Viewmaster...and it is both depressing and gorgeous. -
August 3, 2008
very pictureful n informational in the art....but not one to see for an action-movie watching person
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June 16, 2008
If the world were wiped out tomorrow, there is but one film that would have faithfully depicted not only the physical reality of human existence (past-tense), but also its philosophical place.
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February 18, 2008
unique film...puts you in a trance from the first moment and doesn't let you slip out until it's over
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February 13, 2008
To me, this made life seem like a meaningless joke, which it very well might be. People are like machines, repetitively and predictably going around and doing the same actions over and over. It also shows how insignificant individuals are, as they perform these repetitive actions to increase human populations to seemingly unsustainable levels to where Earth is becoming crowded and less beautiful. It really puts life in perspective. However, this movie doesn't have any answers or words for that matter, and ultimately is a slow film that will likely depress people. The score was haunting and well done.
