Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

Director:

Godfrey Reggio

Writers:

Ron Fricke (writer)
Michael Hoenig (writer)

Release Date:

27 October 1983 (Australia)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Tagline:

October 4, 1982. More than 5,000 people filled the sold out Radio City Music Hall to experience a remarkable film event. That event was the world premiere of KOYAANISQATSI. Now everyone can share the power of that experience.

Plot:

A movie with no conventional plot: merely a collection of expertly photographed scenes. Subject matter has a highly environmental theme.

Plot Keywords:

Environment | Technology | Nature | Native American | Cloud

Awards:

5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Ted Koppel

...

Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance (USA) (poster title)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

None

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:G (video rating) | UK:U | Finland:S | Sweden:7 | USA:Unrated | Germany:6 | Australia:G | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Francis Ford Coppola Presents

Trivia:

The cars being produced on the assembly line are Chevy Camaros.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: About an hour into the movie, the camera operator is reflected in the elevator's glass window as the elevator passes "between" floors while shooting the escalators.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Two Tigers (2007)

One of the most brilliant movies ever made!

This is a stunningly beautiful movie. The music by Phillip Glass is just a work of pure genious. I can watch this movie again and again. The final sequence of the hobi legend´s judgment where the container falls from the sky is just unbeliavable. How was it filmed? It´s so amazing. If you have not seen this film watch it - again and again! This must be the only movie which in a powerful way, far better than, say, "Apocalypse Now", sums up why our current "civilization" might be heading for destruction. Moreover, Koyaanisquatsi "defamiliarizes" the world and humanity allowing the viewer to benefit from a "verfremdung" viewpoint. In other words, we learn so much about our own life and life in general by wathing it from this interely new viewpoint of Koyannisqautsi, where fast motion is used extensively. Is mankind nothing more than ants? Why are we moving so fast? Towards what goal? What is nature? What is the driving force of nature? What is the pulse of the earth? What is our relation with ourselves, nature and other people and animals? Moreover, I think this movie is better than the sequal powaquatsi. Anyway, I cannot emphasize enough how brilliant it is. Watch it! Watch it! Watch it!