Koyaanisqatsi - Life Out of Balance (1982)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Chris W

  
  This just might be the greatest non-narrative film of all time. It might not have a plot, and the script was probably more like an outline of the various sequences, but there's definitely a story here. Composed entirely of various footage of both natural and human environments… More
  This just might be the greatest non-narrative film of all time. It might not have a plot, and the script was probably more like an outline of the various sequences, but there's definitely a story here. Composed entirely of various footage of both natural and human environments set to the brilliant and haunting music of Philip Glass, Koyaanisqatsi (it's Hopi for "life out of balance", this is a look at our world, the juxtapositions between man and nature, and the fact that man is winning, and nature isn't. That's the story, and the film itself, right there. It somehow manages to be both straightforward and simple, yet have so much going on. And it's all done without dialogue (save for some postscript at the end). That is an amazing feat right there, and I feel like a better person for finally sitting down and giving this celebrated art house gem a watch. Sure, Herzog did some stuff like this before 1983, but this film really set a standard for artsy, somewhat pretentious experimental pieces that could be appreciated by the masses as well as the elite. The cinematogrphy by Ron Fricke is, brilliant and pretty innovative (especially for the time), and this is one of the best experiecnes I've gone through in a while. That's also the best way to treat this film. It's an experience more than anything, and I could easily see this playing in an art galelry or something. I really dug what all involved did here, but the film does seem to run out of steam here and there, and for very brief moments ,this truly felt like a gimmick. That didn't last too long though thankfully. It's weird, since even though I thought this ran out of steam (depsite being just under 90 minutes), I'd love to know how much footage was cut out, and I'd like to see it as well. Give this a watch, even if only once. It's a really special and unique film, and I feel like each person needs to have a surreal, ethereal experience like the kind this film provides.

• Sophie B

  
  Visually and metaphorically very good. I especially liked the comparison between the sausages and humans. Very interesting but not something to watch for entertainment. We are destroying this world. Nature vs. humans.

• Anthony L

  
  koyaanisqatsi highlights our subconscious obsession with capitalism and is a propaganda film / koyaanisqatsi is a sinister yet sarcastic comment on the destructive nature of the human race and highlights their constant delusions of self-importance / koyaanisqatsi is a collection of… More
  koyaanisqatsi highlights our subconscious obsession with capitalism and is a propaganda film / koyaanisqatsi is a sinister yet sarcastic comment on the destructive nature of the human race and highlights their constant delusions of self-importance / koyaanisqatsi is a collection of beautifully photographed shots accompanied by a beautifully composed score / koyaanisqatsi is Man With A Movie Camera Circa 1982 *Please delete according to preference*

• Jeremy S

  
  An amazing movie, almost life captured in all its character.

• Ross C

  
  Great post-pub chillout ambient cinema. Haunting music with magical time-lapse photography takes you on a breathtaking cinematic tour of life on Earth. The few scenes of city life that date this movie just add to its charm, as a window of life in the 70s.

• Lafe F

  
  Great hypnotizing Philip Glass music. The visuals in the desert and city are great. I didn't care much for the industry or the spiralling rocket fuselage; maybe that was the point of the movie. It's not fast-paced like MTV - expect to be lulled into a dreamlike state through… More
  Great hypnotizing Philip Glass music. The visuals in the desert and city are great. I didn't care much for the industry or the spiralling rocket fuselage; maybe that was the point of the movie. It's not fast-paced like MTV - expect to be lulled into a dreamlike state through some slow parts of this.

• Robert F

  
  Koyaanisqatsi is mesmerising. It's an avant-garde work with purpose and substance that also succeeds as entertainment.

• hawk l

  
  Intellectual, avant-garde, non-narrative visual music. From ancient Hopi rock wall painting, sweeping into imagery and cinematography of indelible panoramic juxtapositions and contrasts producing a magic, emotional, passionate rhythm. Hopi prophecy is echoed throughout Philip… More
  Intellectual, avant-garde, non-narrative visual music. From ancient Hopi rock wall painting, sweeping into imagery and cinematography of indelible panoramic juxtapositions and contrasts producing a magic, emotional, passionate rhythm. Hopi prophecy is echoed throughout Philip Glass's score, which stands on its own as a powerful composition.

• Sean L

  
  Every time I started to get bored, some new shot would blow my mind. The sheer beauty of the film and the visceral thrill I got from watching it was amazing.

• Christopher B

  
  A perfect balance of music and visuals. Awesome and thought provoking.

• Linda K

  
  Excellent cinematography! Highly recommended for photographers!

Read all 11 featured audience ratings