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Koyaanisqatsi was director
Godfrey Reggio's debut as a film director and producer. Koyaanisqatsi
is the first film of the Qatsi trilogy, and was
released in 1983. Koyaanisqatsi was the first full-length commercial
nonverbal film. Koyaanisqatsi cinematographer and editor Ron
Fricke captures 90 minutes of stunning visual images of North
America, set to a moving score composed by
Philip Glass .
Koyaanisqatsi is a Hopi Indian word meaning 'life out of
balance'. Created between 1975 and 1982, Koyaanisqatsi is an apocalyptic
vision of two different worlds - urban life, and technology versus the
environment. Koyaanisqatsi is a sort of documentary.
There are no actors, there is no plot and there is no script. All of the
images in Koyaanisqatsi are of real life. The subject of
the images vary greatly. They are presented in such a way to show the
contrast between human's and nature. The images provoke a thousand
thoughts.
Ron Fricke was the principal cinematographer on
Koyaanisqatsi. Ron Fricke later went on to create Baraka,
as well as Chronos. Many of the techniques
that work so well in Koyaanisqatsi, such as the slow motion,
time-lapse, and moving vehicle shots, are found in many later
films such as Baraka and Dogora.
Some of the scenes seem to be existing footage. The
explosions and space rocket launch are unlikely to have been
filmed by Ron Fricke or other members of the crew.
Write your own review of Koyaanisqatsi
The idea of Koyaanisqatsi is to make the viewer compare the things found in
nature against those things that humans have created. Koyaanisqatsi
is suggesting humans are out of balance with nature. Although Koyaanisqatsi
contains no dialogue, the word 'koyaanisqatsi' appears in chants during the
film. Koyaanisqatsi took 6 years to
make, including three years shooting. Philip Glass and Godfrey Reggio
then spent three years composing the musical score and editing the film to fit
the new score.
Koyaanisqatsi has always been popular, considering its style. However,
lack of commercial demand and complicated rights disputes saw Koyaanisqatsi go
out of print. Godfrey Reggio's Institute for Regional
Education owns the original film copyright, originally licensed to Island
Entertainment, which was sold to Polygram, which was sold to Metro-Goldwyn
Mayer. The constant change of administration resulted in non-payment of
royalties to the film makers. The IRE sold DVD versions of the film to
help fund the legal costs. The IRE then reached an agreement with MGM
which has allowed us to purchase the enhanced DVD version now.
Koyaanisqatsi was re-released on DVD in 2002.
Koyaanisqatsi was then followed by Powaqqatsi and
Naqoyqatsi. Powaqqatsi is similar in style to Koyaanisqatsi,
whereas Naqoyqatsi's content is all stock footage, with a very technological
edge.
The United States Library of Congress deemed Koyaanisqatsi "culturally
significant". Koyaanisqatsi is now preserved
in the National Film Registry.
Images
Overview
Being the first film of its type Koyaanisqatsi really is ground breaking.
Some of its work goes back 30 years. In interviews Reggio explains that the
whole idea about Koyaanisqatsi is that you interpret it yourself, but he thinks
that if we continue to change as we have then one day we will all speak the
same language and wear the same clothes. Identity is being lost.
The content of Koyaanisqatsi is very broad. But generally shows the stark
contrast between man and nature, and beauty and war. It is always very
effective. Ron Fricke's contribution seems essential to make Godfrey Reggio's
idea work, especially since the release of Fricke's own films.
The first film of this style, and for many the best, but Koyaanisqatsi
will always be a true classic.
Credits
Produced & Directed by Godfrey Reggio
Filmed by Ron Fricke
Edited by Alton Walpole & Ron Fricke
Music by Philip Glass
Music director & additional music: Michael Hoenig
Original release: 1983
Running time approx. 87 minutes
Trivia
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The rocket taking off in the beginning of Koyaanisqatsi is the Saturn 5 rocket,
from the Apollo 12 mission.
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In the closing scenes is a modified and unmanned Atlas rocket from the
Mercury-program from the early 1960's. Both are stock footage.
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Demolition footage of the Pruitt-Igoe housing complex features greatly in the
film.
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Koyaanisqatsi was mentioned on the Simpsons, in the episode.
Home oversleeps and a fast motion scene plays with music early identical
to that in the film.
Images include
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Cave paintings
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Desert landscapes
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Waves
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Cloud formations
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Mines
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Traffic formations
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Commercial passenger aircraft
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Demolition
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Desolate urban landscapes
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Rocket explosions
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Crashing waves
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Sausage factory
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Rush-hour workers
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Escalators
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Cityscapes
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Integrated circuits
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Canyons
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Fields
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Earth movers
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Dams
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Explosions
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Aircraft
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Slums
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Machinery
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People
Links
www.koyaanisqatsi.org - The
official Koyaanisqatsi web site
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The QUATSI trilogy are films that scream to be re-mastered and re-released on Blu-Ray disc in 1080p video with uncompressed soundtracks.
I would pay $100+ for a box set of these three films on Blu-Ray.
I emailed IRE to see if there are any plans to do so. If anyone knows of anything about such a BD release, post it here, thanks!