Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out Of Balance

[dellzeqq]

what do we think?

It's the film of the day in Grauniad, which is amusing the heck out of me. I was sat down to watch this back in 1989, and, by the time it was over, the entire audience - me included - were definitely going to move to New York. Which wasn't the intention. I also doubt the director foresaw being followed by Michael Mann (Heat, Miami Vice) to such wonderful effect.

For those of you who don't know it, it's an 85 minute meditation on humanity being overwhelmed by technology. Whatever. There's about seventeen minutes of pastoral tedium succeeded by stuff being blown up and turned in to cities that pulse with energy, which is really fun. We're supposed to be shaken, taken aback. Instead of which most people are enthralled. Freeways have never looked lovelier.

Really poor quality full length version here... http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewvideo/64335/Koyaanisqatsi__Life_out_of_Balance_Full_Length/ published by somebody called 'Mystic Dave' (we'll call you, Dave)
best bits here
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvZ3DBI1tO8

 

[Yellow Fang]

Funny enough, I've just been watching it. I like the Red Indian chant at the beginning. I remember watching it on Channel 4, probably, years and years ago, and not exactly liking it, but not disliking it neither. It's pretty trippy.

 

[Maz]

I saw it on TV years and years ago, too. Me and my siblings were joining in the repeated chanting of 'Koyaanisqatsi' and taking the piss out of it.

I need to watch it again and see if I think differently this time.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

I bought the box set when I was at uni. In my intellectual phase.

Needless to say it didn't last long...

 

[Yellow Fang]

The bit from 1:17 to 1:20 is the best.

 

[junglegusset]

I saw this at the cinema by accident (don't ask) when it first came out, and I thought it was a real blast - I loved every minute, and it introduced me to Philip Glass too, which led on to all sorts of musical discoveries. Thanks for the reminder of happy days!

I heard the soundtrack before I saw the film, I just thought it was a Phillip Glass 'Long Player', didn't realise there was a film that went with it until recently! Good that Phillip Glass is, he's done some good 'songs'.

 

[yello]

i've not seen it nor even heard of it. I'm familiar with Philip Glass though!

I do like soundscapes (if that's what they are called) generally, and particularly when twinned with images. I'm reminded of Derek Jarmen's 'Blue' which I found hugely moving. Music/sound is a powerful manipulator of emotions and I'm intrigued by the possibility of it going wrong (as it seemingly did in Koyaanisqatsi). The largely animated film 'Allegro Non Troppo' uses music to particularly powerful effect; I dare anyone to not be moved by the reminiscing cat as it wanders around the ruins of its former home to Sibelius's 'Valse Triste' yet both sound and image individually are nowhere near as moving as the combination.

Did you know Barry Adamson (former Magazine keyboardist, amongst other things)once recorded a soundtrack (Moss Side Story) for a fictitious film. It was described in NME as

one of the best soundtracks ever, the fact that it has no accompanying movie is a trifling irrelevance

it's an 85 minute meditation on humanity being overwhelmed by technology. Whatever.

I find an amusing irony there! I have to ask, was it intended?

 

[MontyVeda]

Both good films to gorp at, i recently watched Life in a Day by Kevin Macdonald which reminded me of both powa... and koyaan... similar film but with dialogue. well worth a look.