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IMDbPro

Koyaanisqatsi

  • 19821982
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
38K
YOUR RATING
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
A collection of expertly photographed phenomena with no conventional plot. The footage focuses on nature, humanity and the relationship between them.
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
93 Photos
  • Documentary
  • Music
A collection of expertly photographed phenomena with no conventional plot. The footage focuses on nature, humanity, and the relationship between them.A collection of expertly photographed phenomena with no conventional plot. The footage focuses on nature, humanity, and the relationship between them.A collection of expertly photographed phenomena with no conventional plot. The footage focuses on nature, humanity, and the relationship between them.
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
38K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Godfrey Reggio
  • Writers
    • Ron Fricke(scenario)
    • Godfrey Reggio(scenario)
    • Michael Hoenig(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Edward Asner(archive footage)
    • Pat Benatar(archive footage)
    • Jerry Brown(archive footage)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Godfrey Reggio
  • Writers
    • Ron Fricke(scenario)
    • Godfrey Reggio(scenario)
    • Michael Hoenig(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Edward Asner(archive footage)
    • Pat Benatar(archive footage)
    • Jerry Brown(archive footage)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 230User reviews
    • 87Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    Trailer

    Photos93

    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
    Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Edward Asner
    Edward Asner
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Pat Benatar
    Pat Benatar
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Jerry Brown
    Jerry Brown
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Johnny Carson
    Johnny Carson
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Dick Cavett
    Dick Cavett
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Marilyn Chambers
    Marilyn Chambers
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Sammy Davis Jr.
    Sammy Davis Jr.
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Lou Dobbs
    Lou Dobbs
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Thomas Dolby
    Thomas Dolby
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Linda Ellerbee
    Linda Ellerbee
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Jerry Falwell
    Jerry Falwell
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Mark J. Goodman
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Ted Koppel
    Ted Koppel
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Peter Sellers
    Peter Sellers
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Tush
    • Self - On TV
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Godfrey Reggio
    • Writers
      • Ron Fricke(scenario)
      • Godfrey Reggio(scenario)
      • Michael Hoenig(scenario)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Godfrey Reggio was hooked on Philip Glass doing the music. He approached Glass through a mutual friend, and Glass replied, "I don't do film music." Reggio persisted, and finally the friend told Glass that the tenacious guy was not going to go away without at least an audience. Glass relented, though he still insisted he wasn't doing the music. Reggio put together a photo montage with Glass' music as the soundtrack, which he presented to Glass at a private screening in New York. Immediately following the screening, Glass agreed to score the film.
    • Goofs
      The two explosions at about 18 minutes into the film were shot with anamorphic lenses and not properly desqueezed for the film's 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      title card: Translation of the Hopi Prophecies sung in the film: "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."

    • Crazy credits
      End credits go over mashed voice recordings in English ranging from call operator answers to television news.
    • Connections
      Edited into Wide Awake (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Koyaanisqatsi
      Written by Philip Glass

      Vocals performed by Albert de Ruiter

    User reviews230

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Breathtaking
    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.
    helpful•172
    13
    • epsilon3
    • Mar 25, 2005

    FAQ3

    • What does Koyaanisqatsi mean?
    • What buildings are being demolished?
    • What is the rocket that explodes?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 24, 1983 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Qatsi Trilogy site
    • Languages
      • None
      • Hopi
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance
    • Filming locations
      • Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA
    • Production companies
      • American Zoetrope
      • IRE Productions
      • Santa Fe Institute for Regional Education
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,723,872
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,723,872
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 26 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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