The evolution of the world can often be described in some cases as a de-evolution since the world started out with all of these landscapes of flowers, deserts, and stuff and now, there's not many of them left and are replaced with buildings, roads, damns, and people. In 1982, social and environmental activist Godfrey Reggio released a film that explores the de-evolution of the world in his strange, non-narrative documentary feature Koyaanisqatsi. Based on the Hopi word that means "life out of balance", Koyannisqatsi is a documentary that explores the world from its caverns, canyons, and rivers through its destruction for the people of the world. Presented by Francis Ford Coppola in its initial release, Koyannisqatsi is a film that gives the audience a view into our world and what it was before.

The film begins with an image of caveman drawings on a canyon of towers and stuff with a mix of an image of a rocket nozzle being shot into space. There, the first part of the film reveals the images of canyons and rivers with clouds and water going back and forth into until an aerial image of flower fields are shown. Then, the film moves into dark territory with the destruction of canyons and rocks for the evolution of the world where we see electrical towers and all of this stuff plus damns. Then there’s more disturbing images of war tanks and atomic bombs and rockets flown into space before we move into the images of the city. Through the destructions of buildings and the people to a kinetic, fast movement of people through the world and the evolution. Then the final act shows the slowness of the world through a final image of a rocket being shot up and then blown.

With cinematography and editing by Ron Fricke, Koyannisqatsi features many breathtaking images with several sequences that are memorable to watch. While the film is pretty slow at first, when it comes to an extremely fast movement of people moving from day-to-day situations, day turning to night, and cars moving fast. The editing is superb but it's Fricke's cinematography that really steals the show, notably for its nightly images of Los Angeles and that very memorable scene of the full moon moving up behind a building. The film looks great but watched on a huge screen gives the film a new sense of attraction that can't be captured on television, even in its widescreen format.

One great element that makes Koyannisqatsi a memorable film is the score by Phillip Glass. Glass' minimalist, eerie film score really gives the film that sense of enchantment and suspense that is needed to replace the idea of dialogue or any narrative structure. In fact, Glass' score is really the narrative key of the film. Starting with a bass-sounding chant of the word "Koyannisqatsi" in the opening sequence to a choir-like score with plaintive arrangements that really gives the film a new sense of movement. Even with its horns and synthesizers through the early city sequences, the music goes into speed with its fast sequences that are help play to the images of machines being made and twinkies and hot dogs going through a processor. It is a very memorable score and moment captured.

Then there's the concept of the film presented by its writer and director Godfrey Reggio who began this project in the late 70s and took five years to compile and shoot while getting all of the stock footage needed to present his concept. While its idealism might annoy conservatives including those who don't like any hippie or environmental idealism. Reggio does have a point in what he's trying to say. Yes, we're destroying the world and not much has changed since the early 80s. We're building all of these things and getting rid of some the greatest natural things in the world. Imagine a world without the Grand Canyon or deserts. Plus, where the hell are we going to get water in our future? In some sense, our evolution, rather de-evolution is pretty silly yet we can't escape it.

Reggio does really give out some great ideas in terms of images and things from all points of view. Still, the concept shows that are world has gotten sillier and faster and we're pretty much wasting time. I'm not sure many would agree with and I admit, I'm not a fan of any 60s idealism but Reggio does have a point.

Overall, Koyannisqatsi is still an amazing film for what it is. Since its release in late 1982, Koyannisqatsi has become a cult classic among movie-goers while some find it to be a very boring and pretentious film. Reggio would make two more films that would explore similar subjects, 1988's Powaqqatsi about Third World Cultures for producer George Lucas, and 2002's Naqoyqatsi for Steven Soderbergh about technology becoming a part of nature and its troubling ways. Though neither film had the same impact of Koyannisqatsi, Reggio does succeed in changing the ideas of narratives and approach to documentary filmmaking. For anyone interested in great visuals, hypnotic scores, and strange concepts, this is the film to see.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12