Cinema Craze: Koyanniqatsi (Reggio, 1982)
- Josh
- Feb 25
- 2 min read
Directed by Godfrey Reggio
Produced by Godfrey Reggio
Scenarios by Godfrey Reggio, Ron Fricke, Michael Hoenig, & Alton Walpole
My Rating: 10/10
Koyaanisqatsi Official Trailer #1 - Ted Koppel Movie (1982) HD
“Koyanniqatsi,” or translated from Hopi as “life out of balance”. Taking seven years to complete and released in 1982, the film, whose title bears this word, was the brainchild of director Godfrey Reggio. Reggio had previously worked on advertisements in the 1970s as part of a media campaign launched by the Institute of Regional Education (IRE) in New Mexico. However, after the campaign ended and its sponsorship with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was withdrawn, the IRE was left trying to keep itself financially afloat. With only a small amount of funds left, Reggio was convinced by collaborator Ron Fricke to try something bold. Despite their inexperience, they jumped at the opportunity to make a feature film without a script and using whatever resources they had, creating their take on modern life as they went along. What ultimately came from this endeavor is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating pictures in documentary and experimental filmmaking.
Koyaanisqatsi shows across its 86-minute runtime is something that can be described in many words, but conventional is not one of them. There’s no dialogue, central characters, or even a traditional narrative. Instead, what unfolds is a visual essay concerning the relationship between humanity, nature, and technology. And all of it is presented through a collage of original footage with time-lapse, slow-motion, and stock imagery carefully woven together. Alongside Philip Glass’s iconic, minimalist score and the editing that moves in precise rhythm with the music, the audience witnesses at a hypnotic pace as civilization moves away from the stillness of the natural environments to the relentless motion of modern society’s vehicles, factories, and media. But rather than lecture us as the audience, it makes us reflect and thereby ask questions. Is life out of balance? What is modern life to us? Are we affecting the planet for better or worse? Whatever interpretation one makes from Reggio’s work is just as valid as the next.
Koyaanisqatsi can best be described as an experience rather than a traditional film. A marriage between music and imagery, viewers are allowed to observe something that’s familiar in our daily lives, but at the same time, feels otherworldly. Because of its abstract nature and meditative pacing, however, it's not something that will appeal to everyone who comes across it. In fact, I felt a similar feeling when I first saw it years ago. However, like with Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, it was something I couldn’t forget about and one that grew on me with repeated viewings. Chances are, the same could happen to you, dear reader. If you are looking to expand your cinematic horizons or are in the mood for something different, Koyannisqatsi is right up your alley.