Thu Jan 10, 2013, 10:02 PM

We just watched a film about everything that says (verbally) nothing. Samsara. Just remarkable.

Samsara is a follow up (in a way, though it is not specifically connected) to Baraka - and this style is really very similar to the better known Koyaanisqatsi.

It is a film for our times. Whether it provides hope or hopelessness, it all depends upon which images resonate with you. But we found it beautiful, profound, challenging - with a gorgeous soundtrack by Michael Stearns, with Dead Can Dance's Lisa Gerrard, as well.

It really is a movie to see on the big screen - but it looked really good on our little LG flat screen too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsara_(2011_film)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770802/

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6 replies	Author	Time	Post
We just watched a film about everything that says (verbally) nothing. Samsara. Just remarkable. (Original post)	NRaleighLiberal	Jan 2013	OP
Thanks v much for mentioning this!	Drum	Jan 2013	#1
You are quite welcome. I find that with these unique films, the images embed themselves into you,	NRaleighLiberal	Jan 2013	#2
The cinematographer did Kayaanisqatsi	MichaelSoE	Jan 2013	#3
I wondered if it was by Ron Fricke	kentauros	Jan 2013	#4
We actually liked Baraka perhaps a shred more than Samsara, maybe because	NRaleighLiberal	Jan 2013	#5
I've never seen Chronos, so I'd like to rent it.	kentauros	Jan 2013	#6

Response to NRaleighLiberal (Original post)

Fri Jan 11, 2013, 12:45 AM

Drum (6,240 posts)

1. Thanks v much for mentioning this!

I think I pretty well missed it in NYC theaters, but I think I will hafta purchase it on the pest-possible disc that I can. I bought Baraka ages ago, and it never fails to be a treat whenever I show/lend it to someone. My kind of films (those you mentioned,) that let us insert our own responses to the ravishing images. The technical efforts Fricke &Co take are just extraordinary in their payoff. It's like the recorded media really being analogous to our eyes actually seeing something.

Thanks again for mentioning this fine work!

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Response to Drum (Reply #1)

Fri Jan 11, 2013, 09:14 AM

NRaleighLiberal (28,621 posts)

2. You are quite welcome. I find that with these unique films, the images embed themselves into you,

allowing you to think of connections and meanings well after the viewing. I woke up pondering the juxtaposition of beauty, heartache, irony, infinite space and impossible crowding, purity and filth - all somehow connected.

It makes me wonder exactly what we humans are up to on this earth (something I've wondered for a long time, to tell the truth).

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Response to NRaleighLiberal (Original post)

Fri Jan 11, 2013, 03:50 PM

MichaelSoE (377 posts)

3. The cinematographer did Kayaanisqatsi

I watched it yesterday and being a member of the photography group I am going to link this there.

One difference between this and Koyaaniqatsi was the sound track. Koyaaniqatsi left me exhausted. Philip Glass's score was perfect for that movie but I was relieved to have a bit more laid back sound track for Samsara.

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Response to MichaelSoE (Reply #3)

Fri Jan 11, 2013, 04:30 PM

kentauros (21,773 posts)

4. I wondered if it was by Ron Fricke

As soon as you mentioned "time lapse" in your Photography thread, I had a good idea it was him

He did another fine film and work of art called "Baraka". I'll have to get that one as well as Chronos, if Netflix has it.

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Response to kentauros (Reply #4)

Fri Jan 11, 2013, 04:42 PM

NRaleighLiberal (28,621 posts)

5. We actually liked Baraka perhaps a shred more than Samsara, maybe because

we saw and loved Baraka first; Samsara covers some of the same ground philosophically, though of course visiting different regions. I guess I consider them two parts of a total piece, both indispensable. I own Baraka, and will eventually purchase Samsara. Chronos is just fine, but not quite at the same level.

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Response to NRaleighLiberal (Reply #5)

Fri Jan 11, 2013, 04:53 PM

kentauros (21,773 posts)

6. I've never seen Chronos, so I'd like to rent it.

I saw the first two Qatsi movies in the theater, but never got to see Naqoyqatsi. I like all these types of movies

I remember when I got out of seeing Powaqqatsi that I wasn't as enthused by its message as I had been with Koyaanisqatsi. Yet, when I bought the DVD a few years ago, I found myself almost in tears in certain parts. What a difference a couple of decades will do to your perceptions of the world!

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