Koyaanisqatsi 1982
I started getting into Philip Glass music at some point and I got the soundtrack to this movie before I ever saw it, which I eventually borrowed in 2006 from Netflix when they were doing DVD mailers. The movie showed up for $4.99 on Vudu and I had an account credit, so I snapped it up, figuring it would have more rewatch value than most movies.
It is easy to watch. The music is so nice you don’t even have to watch if you don’t want. It is a little like an 80-minute music video to Philip Glass music. It is all footage of life in the modern world (becoming increasingly historic since it was released in 1982), frequently using time lapse photography or slow motion to show traffic, crowds of people, factories, clouds, airplanes, exploding buildings, etc. The director says the meaning is left up to the viewer, but it certainly seems to be a portrait of hyperactive chaos. However it is also kind of comforting to just watch traffic flow and see the rhythms of life in the city. While it could maybe make a stronger statement, it also avoids overly obvious commentary, though there is an atomic bomb test. Lately I have a hard time avoiding the pause button while watching a movie so I can do other things, but I watched this movie in only two sittings, so I think it does a good job of staying engaging. Still, the highlight is the music, which I happen to really like, therefore the movie gets an A.
Written: 05 Aug 2022
Owned on: Digital