Baraka (1992)

A collection of expertly photographed scenes of human life and religion.

Director:

Ron Fricke

Writers:

Ron Fricke (concept), Mark Magidson (concept)

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Storyline

Without words, cameras show us the world, with an emphasis not on "where," but on "what's there." It begins with morning, natural landscapes and people at prayer: volcanoes, water falls, veldts, and forests; several hundred Balinese Hindu men perform kecak, the monkey chant. Indigenous peoples apply body paint; whole villages dance. The film moves to destruction of nature via logging, blasting, and strip mining. Images of poverty, rapid urban life, and factories give way to war, concentration camps, and mass graves. Ancient ruins come into view, and then a sacred river where pilgrims bathe and funeral pyres burn. Prayer and nature return. A monk rings a huge bell; stars wheel across the sky.

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Plot Keywords:

human nature | environmental education | world culture | working conditions | environment | 

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Taglines:

A world beyond words.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

None

Release Date:

19 November 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Baraka - Eine Welt jenseits der Worte

Filming Locations:

Rajasthan, India

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$26,812, 26 September 1993

Gross USA:

$1,332,110

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,332,110

Company Credits

Production Co:

Magidson Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Baraka was the first film in over twenty years to be photographed in the 70mm Todd-AO format, an extremely high definition wide-screen film format developed in the mid 1950s. The previous film filmed in this particular format was The Last Valley (1971).

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Goofs

The city Istanbul is misspelled in the movie twice, as Instanbul.

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Connections

Featured in The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

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Soundtracks

Triste
Composed and Performed by Ciro Hurtado
Hurtadoloja.ASCAP

User Reviews

A masterpiece! Spiritually uplifting. Touches the heart and soul deeply.

It is perplexing to read a few comments below that rubbish this film. To me, and to so many others, it is unequaled in it's beauty, sensitivity and deep spiritual perception into this amazing world that we inhabit.

Really, I think if anyone watches this film and cannot feel uplifted to the heavens, then they must be spiritually deadened by cynicism and negativity.

Even without DVD and the big screen, we have enjoyed repeated viewing of this EXCEPTIONAL film. I first saw it in Sydney, in Panavision's huge screen, and was totally blown away by the cinematography as well as the profoundly moving music. But even on VHS here at home, it touches me ever so deeply.

10 out of 10. An incredible experience!!