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Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

U 86 min  -  Documentary | Music  -   24 August 1983 (France)
8.1
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Ratings: 8.1/10 from 15,532 users  
Reviews: 169 user | 62 critic

A movie with no conventional plot: merely a collection of expertly photographed scenes. Subject matter has a highly environmental theme.

Director:

Godfrey Reggio

Stars:

Lou Dobbs and Ted Koppel
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5 wins & 1 nomination See more awards »

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Koyaanisqatsi -- A motion picture essay which takes a revealing and shocking look at modern life and its imbalances.  The first film in a trilogy which was followed by Powaqatsi.
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Cast

Uncredited cast:
Lou Dobbs Lou Dobbs ...
Himself (uncredited)
Ted Koppel Ted Koppel ...
Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
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Storyline

Koyaanisqatsi is a documentary (of sorts). It is also a visual concert of images set to the haunting music of 'Phillip Glass' . While there is no plot in the traditional sense, there is a definate scenario. The film opens on ancient native American cave drawings, while the soundtrack chants "Koyaanisqatsi" which is a Hopi indian term for "life out of balance". The film uses extensive time lapse photography (which speeds images up) and slow motion photography to make comparisons between different types of physical motion. In one of the first examples, we see cloud formations moving (sped up) intercut with a montage of ocean waves (slowed down) and in such a way we are able to see the similarities of movement between these natural forces. This technique of comparison exists throughout the film, and through it we learn more about the world around us. The film progresses from purely natural environments to nature as affected by man... Written by Andrew M. Somers <film@myndex.com>  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Environment | Nature | Technology | Time Lapse Photography | Cloud  | See more »

Taglines:

Until now, you've never really seen the world you live in. See more »

Genres:

Documentary | Music

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

None

Release Date:

(France) See more »

Also Known As:

Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance See more »

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA See more »

Box Office

Gross:

$1,723,872 (USA)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Godfrey Reggio originally wanted an uninterpretable symbol as the title of the film, but instead settled on "Koyaanisqatsi", from an obscure language (Hopi) that he said "had no emotional baggage attached to it" due to its obscurity. See more »

Goofs

Crew or equipment visible: About an hour into the movie, the camera operator is reflected in the elevator's glass window as the elevator passes "between" floors while shooting the escalators. See more »