Samsara (2011/I)

Director:

Ron Fricke

Writers:

Ron Fricke (concept and treatment written by)
Mark Magidson (concept and treatment written by)

Release Date:

23 August 2012 (Germany)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Filmed over nearly five years in twenty-five countries on five continents, and shot on seventy-millimetre film, Samsara transports us to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders. |

Plot Keywords:

Crowd | Prison Dance | Delicate Arch | Themed Casket | Facial Tattoo

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Balinese Tari Legong Dancers	...	Dancers: Indonesia
Ni Made Megahadi Pratiwi	...	Dancer: Valinese Tari Legong Dancers, Indonesia
Puti Sri Candra Dewi	...	Dancer: Valinese Tari Legong Dancers, Indonesia
Putu Dinda Pratika	...	Dancer: Valinese Tari Legong Dancers, Indonesia
Marcos Luna	...	Tattoo Daddy: USA
Hiroshi Ishiguro	...	Professor and Robot Clone: Japan (as Prof. Hiroshi Ishiguro)
Olivier De Sagazan	...	Mat At Desk: France
Ladyboys of Cascade Bar	...	Dancers: Thailand
Kikumaru	...	Geisha: Japan
Crisanto Neire	...	Lead Singer: Cebu Provincial Detenton Center, Philippines
Robert Henline	...	U>S> Army Veteran: USA (as Staff Sergeant Robert Henline)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tai Lihua	...	Lead Dancer: 1000 Habds Goddess Dance, China (as Iai Lihua)

Directed by
Ron Fricke

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ron Fricke		concept and treatment written by
Mark Magidson		concept and treatment written by

Produced by
Salim Amin	....	location producer: Ethiopia, CamreaPix
Suha Arraf	....	location producer: Israel
Keiko Hagihara Bang	....	location producer: South Korea, Bang Singapore Pte (as Keiko Bang)
Leigh Clarke	....	location producer: United Arab Emirates, Filmworks Dubai
Myles Connolly	....	line producer
Bianca Costa	....	location producer: Brazil, Copacabala Films & Production
Touré Ousmane Diadié	....	location producer: Mali
J.C. Earle	....	associate producer (as John Chandler Earle)
Deborah Gabinetti	....	location producer: Indonesia
Hala Galal	....	location producer: Egyt, Semat Production &Distribution
Rasmini Gardiner	....	location producer: Indonesia
Dan Halsted	....	consulting producer
Kim Hansen	....	location producer: Denmark, Ceenema
Winifred Hmensa	....	location producer: Ghana, PaperKut Limited
Genevieve Hofmeyr	....	location producer: Nambia, Moonlighting Film
Miles Johnson	....	location producer: Thailand, Bullet Productions
Ann L. Kalber	....	location producer: Hawaii
Mick Kalber	....	location producer: Hawaii
Richard Kipnis	....	location producer: Japan, Virgin Earth
Ute Leonhardt	....	location producer: Italy, Panorama Films
Samanna Lui	....	location producer: Hong Kong
Mark Magidson	....	producer
Michael Neale	....	associate producer: Los Angeles
Maria Polotan	....	location producer: Phillipines
Marco Valerio Pugnini	....	location producer: Italy, Panorama Films
Christopher Reyna	....	imaging producer
Ghassan Salti	....	producer: Jordan. Film Crew TV Productions
Zulfikar Shahnawaz	....	location producer: Saudi Arabia, Madarat Productions
Dileep Singh Rathore	....	line producer: India, On The Road Productions
Tim Smythe	....	location producer: United Arab Emirates, Filmworks Dubai
Thananath Songchaikul	....	location producer: Thailand, Bullet Productions
Sonny Nyunt Thein	....	location producer: Mayanmar
Amadou Thiam	....	location producer: Mali
Sushil Tyagi	....	location producer: India, On The Road Productions
Jean Manuel Vignau	....	location producer: France (as Jean-Manuel Vignau)
Dylan Voogt	....	location producer: Nambia, Moonlighting Film
Noah Weinzweig	....	producer: China, Teneighty Productions
Aydan Özbalkan	....	location producer: Turkey

Original Music by
Marcello De Francisci
Lisa Gerrard
Michael Stearns

Cinematography by
Ron Fricke

Film Editing by
Ron Fricke
Mark Magidson

Production Management
Christopher Reyna	....	post-production supervisor

Sound Department
James Bailey	....	foley artist (as James Baily)
J.C. Earle	....	location sound recordist (as John Chandler Earle)
Kaspar Hugentobler	....	sound recordist
Matthew Iadarola	....	sound re-recording mixer
Albert Michael Idioma	....	location sound recordist (as Michael Idioma)
Jon Johnson	....	sound effects editor
Michael Magidson	....	additional foley
Michael Magidson	....	location sound recordist
Greg Mauer	....	foley mixer
Rick Owens	....	foley artist
Angelo Palazzo	....	sound effects editor
Miguel Rivera	....	sound designer
Miguel Rivera	....	sound effects editor
Miguel Rivera	....	supervising sound editor
Will Staszak	....	location sound recordist
Michael Stearns	....	sound designer
Trevor Ward	....	dolby sound consultant

Visual Effects by
Susan Alexander	....	visual effects producer: 4k scanning & 4k image processing, FotoKem Digital Film Services (as Sue Alexander)
Jenny Head Appleton	....	visual effects producer: 4k image processing, Spy Post
Jonathan Block	....	3d animator: main and end titles, Picture Mill
Jay Cox	....	65mm line-up: 4k scanning & 4k image processing, FotoKem Digital Film Services
Sean Cox	....	digital artist: 4k image processing, Griffiti Studios
Frank Fieser	....	digital artist: 4k image processing, Griffiti Studios
Greg Gilmore	....	flame compositor: 4k image processing, Spy Post
Michael L. Griffin	....	65mm line-up: 4k scanning & 4k image processing, FotoKem Digital Film Services (as Mike Griffin)
Amy Hollywood Wixson	....	senior visual effects producer: 4k image processing, Spy Post
Rick Lopez	....	scanning: 4k scanning & 4k image processing, FotoKem Digital Film Services
Paul McGhee	....	scanning: 4k scanning & 4k image processing, FotoKem Digital Film Services
Les Meek	....	scanning: 4k scanning & 4k image processing, FotoKem Digital Film Services
Jesse Morrow	....	digital artist: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks
Rob Nederhorst	....	visual effects supervisor: 4k image processing, Griffiti Studios
John Nicolard	....	head of digital production: 4k scanning & 4k image processing, FotoKem Digital Film Services
Darren Orr	....	visual effects supervisor: 4k image processing, Spy Post
Daniel Rapo	....	visual effects producer: 4k scanning & 4k image processing, FotoKem Digital Film Services
Bill Schultz	....	general manager: 4k scanning & 4k image processing, FotoKem Digital Film Services
Rene Simen	....	digital artist: 4k scanning & 4k image processing, FotoKem Digital Film Services
Micole Toyloy	....	digital paint artist: 4k image processing, Spy Post
Paul Winze	....	visual effects producer: 4k image processing, Griffiti Studios
Nelson Yu	....	animator: main and end titles, Picture Mill
Donald Strubler Jr.	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Siddhartha Abbazi	....	additional camera assistant (as Siddhartha Abbazzi)
Kenneth C. Barrows	....	65mm senior camera engineer (as Ken Barrows)
Shane Combs	....	lead machinist: 65mm motion control time lapse camera system
Michael DelTorre	....	camera prep technician (as Michael Delatorre)
J.C. Earle	....	first assistant camera (as John Chandler Earle)
J.C. Earle	....	gaffer (as John Chandler Earle)
Alexander Falk	....	second assistant camera
Stephen Franklin	....	additional camera assistant
Ron Fricke	....	designer: 65mm motion control time lapse camera system
Dylan Goss	....	aerial photography: Dubaï
Rob Greiner	....	motion control software programming: Smart Engineering
Hillary Hanak	....	electrician: California
Brian L. Hauge	....	electrician: California
Travis Huston	....	grip: California (as ravis 'Trigger; Huston)
Igori Kamoevi	....	grip: California
Justin Thomas Ostensen	....	additional camera assistant
Greg Reilman	....	65mm camera service manager
Dan Sasaki	....	65mm camera lens designer and engineer

Editorial Department
Andy Chua	....	data management: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks
Chris Clark	....	color science: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks
J.C. Earle	....	additional editor (as John Chandler Earle)
Jeff Heacock	....	lab manager: 65mm film services, Fotokem
Tim Heugele	....	digital intermediate data management: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks
Jim Houston	....	digital intermediate engineer: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks
Grant Janssen	....	digital intermediate engineer: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks (as Grant Jansen)
Kevin Lomet	....	digital intermediate assistant: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks
Greg Mucino	....	digital intermediate data management: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks
Maureen O'Connor	....	digital intermediate producer: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks
Andrew Oran	....	operations: 65mm film services, Fotokem
Sara Pasanen	....	ocn lineup: 65mm film services, Fotokem
John Persichetti	....	digital intermediate colorist: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks
Vince Roth	....	technical director: 65mm film services, Fotokem
Cat Rowe	....	digital intermediate assistant: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks (as Kat Rowe)
Jason Saulog	....	digital intermediate conformist: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks
Benjamin Sutor	....	digital intermediate conformist: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks
Robert Tomaszewski	....	telecine operator: 65mm film services, Fotokem
Erin White	....	data transfer editor: 65mm film services, Fotokem
Gwili Wilson	....	digital intermediate assistant: 4k digital intermediate services, Colorworks
Bill Young	....	conform qc editor (as William Young)
Kristen Zimmerman	....	color timer: 65mm film services, Fotokem

Music Department
Paul Abell	....	bell collection
Zuleikha Bethami	....	consultant: source music
David Brownlow	....	music recordist: dharamsala monk recordings
Marcello De Francisci	....	music mixer: Ross 424
Marcello De Francisci	....	musician: charango, viola, percussion
Lisa Gerrard	....	musician: vocals
Kaspar Hugentobler	....	music editor: Ross 424
Mark Magidson	....	musical director
Don Markese	....	musician: flutes on 'Food Chain'
James Orr	....	additional music engineer: Ross 424
Amir Pakrooh	....	musician: Persian ney flute on ;Dubai;
Michael Stearns	....	music editor: Ross 424
Michael Stearns	....	music mixer: Ross 424
Michael Stearns	....	musical director
Nancie Stern	....	music clearances: Music Resources
Vidia Wesenlund	....	musician: vocals on 'Pagan, ' 'Katrina, ' 'Organics' and 'St Peters'

Other crew
Iris Azadi	....	junior title designer: P{icture Mill
Shel Bachrach	....	insurance: Bachrach & Associates
Ayesha Chagla	....	production coordinator - UAE
David Clayton	....	title designer: Picture Mill
Nina Huang Fan	....	fixer
Bryan Gardiner	....	location scout: New Orleans
Linda Giella	....	lead researcher
Michelle Grenier	....	internet presence assistant
Paul Harper	....	production assistant
Ron Hess	....	insurance: Bachrach & Associates
James Hornstein	....	legal: Lapidus, Root, Franklin & Sacharow
Elly Jonez	....	internet presence consultant
Ryan Key	....	production assistant
Paul Kimball	....	production assistant
Aaron Krinsky	....	production assistant
Manjari Makijany	....	production coordinator: india
Clark McClutcheon	....	legal: Lapidus, Root, Franklin & Sacharow
David Midgen	....	titles producer: Picture Mill
William Osborne	....	production accountant: Gorelick & Uslaner
Derek Ostensen	....	production assistant
Michelle Peele	....	production coordinator
Peggy Robinson	....	additional research
Henry Root	....	legal: Lapidus, Root, Franklin & Sacharow (as Henry W. Root)
Ghassan Salti	....	production consultant: Turkey
Rachel Siegal	....	visa services: Intercontinental Visa Service
Barkin Smith	....	legal: Lapidus, Root, Franklin & Sacharow
Jill L. Smith	....	legal: Lapidus, Root, Franklin & Sacharow (as Jill Smith)
Jonathan Sokol	....	legal: Greenberg Glusker
Beverly Soo Hoo	....	production accountant: Gorelick & Uslaner
Will Staszak	....	production assistant
Carey Ann Strelecki	....	research consultant
Christine Wright	....	insurance: Bachrach & Associates
Marianna Yarovskaya	....	researcher
Khaled Zaazouh	....	production assistant: Dubai

Thanks
Deanna Born	....	thanks
Manuel Cadaval	....	thanks
Camille Cellucci	....	thanks
Joe Hall	....	thanks
Cynthia Hardy	....	thanks
John Hardy	....	thanks
Ami Haruna	....	special thanks
Iris Ichishita	....	thanks
David Magidson	....	thanks
Michael Magisdon	....	thanks
Vivian Vivona	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Bali Film Center (location production: Indonesia)
• Bang Singapore (location production: South Korea)
• Bullet Productions (location production: Thailand)
• Camerapix (location production: Ethiopia)
• Ceenema (location production: Denmark)
• Copacabana Filmes e Produções (location production: Brazil) (as Copacabana Films & Productions)
• FilmCrew TV Production Management Agency (location production: Jordan) (as Film Crew TV Productions)
• Filmworks Dubai (location production: United Arab Emerates)
• Madarat Productions (location production: Saudi Arabia)
• Magidson Films
• Moonlighting Films (location production: Nambia)
• Panorama Films (location production: Italy)
• PaperKut (location production: Ghana)
• Semat for Production and Distribution (location production: Egypt) (as Semat Production & Distribution)
• Teneighty Productions (location production: China)
• Virgin Earth (location production: Japan)

Distributors

• Freestyle Digital Media (2012) (USA) (all media)
• ARP Sélection (2013) (France) (theatrical)
• Arrow Films (2012) (UK) (theatrical)
• Busch Media Group (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• E1 Films Canada (2012) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Eclipse Pictures (2012) (Ireland) (theatrical)
• Oscilloscope Pictures (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
• MPI Media Group (2013) (USA) (DVD)
• MPI Media Group (2013) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Spy Post Digital (4k image processing) (as Spy Post)
• Griffiti Studios (4k image processing)
• FotoKem Digital Film Services (4k scanning & 4k image processing)

Other Companies

• Bachrach & Associates  insurance
• Bali Film Commission  production services by
• Colorworks  4k digital intermediate services
• Eastman Kodak  65mm vision film stock
• Gorelick & Uslaner  production accounting
• Greenberg Glusker  legal
• Intercontinental Visa Services  visa services
• Lapidus, Root, Franklin & Sacharow  legal
• Moldex Metric  special thanks
• Monkeyland Audio  foley recorded at
• Picture Mill, The  main and end titles
• Ross 424  soundtrack re-recorded at
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some disturbing and sexual images

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

None

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (8 channels) | Datasat

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Ireland:12A | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

Epupa Falls, Angola

Company:

Bali Film Center

Trivia:

Samsara (a Sanskrit word literally meaning "continuous flow") is the repeating cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth (reincarnation) within Hinduism, Buddhism, Bön, Jainism and Yoga. In Sikhism this concept is slightly different and looks at our actions in the present and consequences in the present.

Movie Connections:

Follows Baraka (1992)

Soundtrack:

Spheres

A warning

I have found reviewing this film in detail to be futile. Instead, I will offer my own thoughts.

Whereas 1992's "Baraka" contemplates on humanity in a dream/god-like manner, Ron Fricke's "Samsara" is more intense and solemn in its tone. From the birth of civilization, mankind has used its gift for intelligence for nothing but progress, and now, today, we have either reached or gone over the tipping point. There is no where but down this time. Humans work mechanically in a clockwork fashion, consume everything in their path, and leave the excesses behind for others to scavenge. Eventually, all will collapse, leaving nothing behind and returning the state of civilization back to ground zero. And the wheel turns on. Is this what "Samsara", Frick and co-editor Mark Magidson is trying to say? Or did you experience a completely different interpretation? It is up to you to decide.

I will not ponder upon the technical details. The cinematography and editing is flawless; the music and music arrangement - simply mesmerizing. A work of art, like life itself, on this planet, in our cities and homes, in the desolate plains and mountains; they are shown in all its beauty, splendour and spectacle. Our planet is truly beautiful.

I will end my review with this note - you owe no one but yourself to see this film. Every man, woman and child should see this - regardless of their personal preference of culture and entertainment. This film is a message to all of us. A warning.

Overall rating: 100%