Hacker Cinema
Powaqqatsi
1988 · Film · documentary · 100 min
Part of Qatsi Collection
Directed by Godfrey Reggio
An exploration of technologically developing nations and the effect the transition to Western-style modernization has had on them.
5 positive1 negative1 neutralfrom 7 commenters
Where to watch
No streaming data for this title.
7 comments on Hacker News
Ron Fricke is person who made Koyaanisqatsi the beautiful visual journey that it is. I would recommend watching any of his other works. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Fricke (FWIW, Powaqqatsi is also pretty good, but I would strongly suggest avoiding Naqoyqatsi which is just not very good).
Powaqqatsi holds a special place in my heart - it's the only film that has ever put me to sleep in a theatre.
The style of this reminds me of Infinite Adam Curtis, a generated series of video clips overlaid with random punchy / pithy comments in (very loosely) his style.
https://www.tomscott.com/infinite-adam-curtis/
Don't forget to mention his most transcendent movie scoring, in Powaqqatsi! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNVTmWRcUbY
Highly recommend watching Powaqqatsi, sequel to Koyaanisqatsi. The opening scene is filmed in Serra Pelada. Does a much better job of capturing the atmosphere than these photos.
One of my favorite films when I was younger. I discovered the music composers Phillip Glass and subsequently Steve Reich through the films. Many documentaries and media productions play on the audio visual styles Reggio popularized in the film. It's interesting how often I detect sqatsi-ism in modern film (1). Just a couple days ago while watching "Home" I felt it's presence (2).
Koyaanisqatsi was the first of a trilogy of films:
Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koyaanisqatsi Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PirH8PADDgQ
Powaqqatsi: Life in Transformation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powaqqatsi Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNVTmWRcUbY
Naqoyqatsi: Life as War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqoyqatsi Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PxT3MtTedw
The films creator, Godfrey Reggio has recently created a new work:
Visitors: 2013 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visitors_(2013_film) Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1ZwYJI55Rs
The original cinematographer for Koyaanisqatsi, Ron Fricke, went on to produce similar styles of films:
Samsara: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsara_(2011_film) Baraka: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baraka_(film) Chronos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronos_(film)
Phillip Glass: Music Composer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip_Glass Sample of Phillip Glass's music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkof3nPK--Y
Steve Reich: Music Composer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Reich Sample of Steve Reich's music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU23LqQ6LY4
---
(1) Sqatsi-ism: Made up word to describe the type of audio visual style created and popularized in the original film, which can now be seen throughout media.
(2) Home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU. Interesting fact, the narrator of the film sounds almost identical to the woman in Phillip Glass's song "Einstein on the Beach Play 5", which was created back when he did the score for Koyaanisqatsi. Play 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmX_GgozpQs.
Note: If you enjoy documentaries TrueFilms a great resources to discover new titles you may not have seen before: http://truefilms.com. In fact, many of the titles listed above are on this list.
From movie critic Leonard Malton: (4-stars, highest rating) "Spellbinding, senses-staggering nonnarrative film soars across the United States in search of vistas both natural and man-made. Much of the photography is slow-motion or time-lapse (the title is Hopi Indian for "life out of balance"), all of it set to a mesmerizing score by Philip Glass. So rich in beauty and detail that with each viewing it becomes a new and different film. Should be seen in a theatre for maximum impact. Followed by POWAQQATSI and NAQOYQATSI"
American Splendor - About comic creator Harvey Pekar, who isn't an artist, just a storyteller. But was the creator of some popular cult-classic comics detailing his ordinary life tribulations and trials. Creativity comes in all forms.
Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi - these are usually more considered artsy films but they also small views of different cultures busy at work and how they interact.
Some of the early Nova series programs (early = 1980's) they had some really great stuff such as the Exploratoruim - its history and a really good bit about how they designed/built exhibits (with the founder, Dr. Frank Oppeheimer)... and another one on Open Spaces, particularly centering on the public spaces in New York and the studies of maximizing planning and design for public usability. It just illustrated to me there are a wide variety of real life problems in need of solutions.
Bell Science Educational Series - (1956-64, available on VHS) covers a lot of ground in many aspects of sciences (not just physics and chemistry) Very approachable for a kid from the sticks. :-)