A collection of expertly photographed phenomena with no conventional plot. The footage focuses on nature, humanity and the relationship between them.
Director:
Godfrey Reggio
From metacritic.com
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Title: Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
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6 wins & 1 nomination.
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Cast
| Uncredited cast: | |||
| Edward Asner | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Pat Benatar | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Jerry Brown | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Johnny Carson | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Dick Cavett | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Marilyn Chambers | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Sammy Davis Jr. | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Lou Dobbs | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Thomas Dolby | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Linda Ellerbee | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Jerry Falwell | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
 |
Mark J. Goodman | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| Ted Koppel | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Peter Sellers | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
|
|
Bill Tush | ... | Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited) |
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
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Storyline
This experimental film looks at the world and more specifically the effect man has had on the landscape and the environment. Without narration, the film shows the world in a pristine condition and untouched: blue skies, beautiful landscapes and endless vistas. The man-made world is much less appealing. Essentially a montage using a variety of film techniques to provide a visually stunning montage of images. Written by garykmcd
Plot Keywords:
time lapse photography | experimental film | television | demolition | building |Taglines:
Until now, you've never really seen the world you live in. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The choral piece near the end of the film, "Prophecies", is sung in the Hopi dialect. The translation is: "If we dig precious things from the land, we will invite disaster. Near the Day of Purification, there will be cobwebs spun back and forth in the sky. A container of ashes might one day be thrown from the sky, which could burn the land and boil the oceans." See more »Goofs
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. See more »Quotes
Choir: Koyaanisqatsi - Koyaanisqatsi - Koyaanisqatsi - Koyaanisqatsi - Koyaanisqatsi...See more »
Crazy Credits
End credits go over mashed voice recordings in English ranging from call operator answers to television news. See more »
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
24 August 1983 (France) See more »Also Known As:
Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance See more »Edit
Box Office
Gross USA:
$1,723,872Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$1,723,872Company Credits
Production Co:
American Zoetrope, IRE Productions, Santa Fe Institute for Regional Education See more »
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Make no mistake -- you need to get into the right mood to properly enjoy this film. Try watching it with your cynical or populist friends and they'll pour scorn upon it. Don't try to convince others to 'get it' as they won't.
The best thing to do is to turn off all of the lights, pump up the sound and absorb yourself in the spectacle that unfolds on the screen. If you do this, you'll experience one of the most breathtaking, moving and exciting pieces of art ever. There are few films that reach these heights -- 2001: A Space Odyssey is the only one that instantly comes to mind.
Don't analyse it until it's finished. Talking through it will ruin it. I've found that the film works best on an emotional level so switch your brain off and just watch and listen. By the time it's finished, you'll feel like you've been on an exhausting and exhilarating journey that you'll want to take again not long afterwards.