Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

[Melooon]

Im not really sure how, but my morning snoop around youtube lead me to think about this movie! It's an early timelapse movie (possibly one of the first most people would have seen) - it's also a dark visual poem - I first saw it when I was about 12 and it really stuck with me!

Probably my favourite section of it is called "The Grid" mainly because it focuses on technology that at the time would have been super modern but now seems incredibly ancient, I suppose that changes the meaning of the film a bit, and I like that! You can see most of the grid section on youtube!

And for those of you who would like to know more, there is a decent video analysis here!

Overall I found this movie really inspiring, however, I also find its pessimistic view of humanity a bit of a bummer, and honestly kinda wrong - I think that's why I like the grid scene, its one of the few parts of the movie that's not really casting a judgment, it just is what it is!

All that said; I think its particular brand of pessimism has merit and was totally important at the time it was made; as a counterpoint to mainstream 1980s culture. The footage itself and the music are really beautiful!

There are also two other films that follow it: Powaqqatsi (1988) and Naqoyqatsi (2002) although Iv not seen them and they don't seem to have the same critical acclaim.

Have you watched it? How did it impact you, and do you think it still holds up today?

[Memory]

One of my favorite films of all time. Never fails to make me cry.

[Wobblegong]

I remember listening to the Philip Glass score before I saw it (love Glass)

The Pruitt-Igoe section is really haunting, lot of sad history to that place.

The pessimism kind of works on me but I admit that is partially because I don't like crowded places in general. The mega malls and city crowds do just make me depressed. Everything is so far removed from nature. There is something nice about the city at night though, and one of the shots sort of lingers on that feeling. The glowing elevator bouncing up and down in glass tower...

I don't know why, but the street shots really make people look inhuman? I don't know how intentional that is.