Koyaanisqatsi

This is a film produced in 1982 by Godfrey Reggio and has a music score by Philip Glass.

The film consists of slow-motion and time-lapse photography of American cities and landscapes. Whilst this sounds highly "experimental" (as opposed to what?) and boring, it isn't. It's actually very easy and enjoyable to watch. The music is fascinating and in sequence with the film is stunning. This film is all about the experience it will leave you with both aurally and visually.

This film says and looks at a lot of things. One of the main things I felt it was showing was man's progression from a natural being into a mechanical, lifeless one. When you think of humanity, do you think of forests, growth, clouds, waterfalls, landscapes, mountains, oceans? Man as a growing,, breathing, living thing, with highly complex emotions and each one of us individual; or do you think of mass-production, statistics, industry, labour, factories? The film shows you an array of sequences (that would make fantastic photographs alone), but it's not only important what it shows, but how it's orchestrated into what may be hailed as one of the most important works of art, ever. The music really allows these powerful images to sink it, almost subconsciously -- and makes you realise that dialogue in film takes you even further away from the truth. This film is absolutely beautiful, but don't be fooled -- this portrayal of man's nature and the society we have created from our Neanderthal ancestors is horrifying to think about.

The film title takes it's name from the Hopi language and translates to "crazy life". I have a boxset that has the first 2 films of the trilogy. This would be impossible to leave out of your "top 10 films" after seeing it.