I finally got around to watching Koyaanisqatsi at the weekend. This film, made in 1983, is as relevant today as it was at the time of its release, if not more so.
If you liked Baraka, you’ll likely appreciate Koyaanisqatsi. Like Baraka, it has no words, just a sequence of images set to music. Whereas Baraka was set to an anthology of atmospheric music, Koyaanisqatsi’s music comes in its entirety from the distinguished avant garde composer, Philip Glass.
With no dialogue, the viewer is left to render his or her own interpretation of the images, influenced to some undetermined degree by the music. Time-lapse photography is used to great effect, making it very hard to ignore the parallels between the human and the insect worlds.
The title, a Hopi word meaning Life Out Of Balance, is almost certainly the most overtly political statement made by the film, but represents the virtually inevitable conclusion that results from viewing the film.
From the opening scenes of vast mountain ranges and lush vegetation, the viewer is plunged headlong into an odyssey of man’s lasting impression upon the planet, depicting technology in all its marvellous glory, along with fearsome examples of its misappropriation.
Watch for yourself and decide what to make of this film. The DVD also contains an excellent monologue by the very erudite director, Godfrey Reggio, with comments from Philip Glass.