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Poster for Koyaanisqatsi

Koyaanisqatsi (1983)

NR ★ 7.9/10 86 min Documentary, Music United States English

Director: Godfrey Reggio

Screenplay by: Ron Fricke, Godfrey Reggio, Michael Hoenig, Alton Walpole
Ideas: Jacques Ellul, Ivan Illich, David Monongye, Guy Debord, Leopold Kohr

Streaming: Not available

Life out of balance

Description

Takes us to locations all around the US and shows us the heavy toll that modern technology is having on humans and the earth. The visual tone poem contains neither dialogue nor a vocalized narration: its tone is set by the juxtaposition of images and the exceptional music by Philip Glass.

Trailer

Top Cast

Ed Asner Self (archive footage)

Pat Benatar Self

Johnny Carson Self (archive footage)

Dick Cavett Self (archive footage)

Marilyn Chambers Self (archive footage)

Sammy Davis Jr. Self (archive footage)

Lou Dobbs Self (archive footage)

Linda Ellerbee Self (archive footage)

Koyaanisqatsi Appears on 15 Curated Movie Lists

Canon Institutions

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (2024)

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die #299

Academy Museum Of Motion Pictures

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures #390

Criterion Collection

Criterion Collection #636

Movies Approved By The Church Of Satan

Church of Satan #48

National Film Registry

National Film Registry #389

Russian Culture Ministry’s 100 Recommended Films

Russian Culture Ministry #49

Critic Curated

BBC Culture: 100 Greatest American Films

Indiewires 100 Best Movies Of The 1980s

Paste Magazines 100 Best Documentaries Of All Time

Paste Magazine #74

Rolling Stone - The 100 Greatest Movies Of 21st Century

Rolling Stone #49

Filmmaker Curation

Christopher Nolan's Favorite Movies

Edgar Wright's 1000 Favorite Movies

Letterboxd #623

Letterboxd Lists

Letterboxd 120 Highest Rated 1980-1989 Films

Official Top 250 Documentary Films

Showdown Fantastic Planet

Letterboxd Showdown #12

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