Koyaanisqatsi: life out of balance, a 1982 film exploring the clashing worlds of natural environment and urban living. The film was the first in the QATSI Trilogy by film director and producer Godfrey Reggio. The following trilogy films include Powaqqatsi: life in transformation (1988) and Naqoyqatsi: life as war (2002).
Source: QATSI Trilogy Film Posters on IMDb.com
Koyaanisqatsi [ko.yaa.nis.qatsi] n. – from the Hopi language
- crazy life
- life in turmoil
- life out of balance
- life disintegrating
- a state of life that calls for another way of living
The translations of koyaanisqatsi from the Hopi language are illustrated in the film with the compilation of videos exploring the clashing worlds of the natural environment and urban living. The explorations of these worlds uncovers the variety of intensities, as within both worlds there is a range from calm to chaos.
Source: Images from Koyaanisqatsi film on koyaanisqatsi.org
The natural environment is how the world began, illustrated with images of the deserts, canyons, waves, islands, vegetated landscapes, and clouds. The purity and wonder of the natural environment displayed in all its beauty, untouched by man. In these moments of purity, life is in balance.
However, urban living has taken over the natural environment. Images depicting war, energy production and networks, material mining, cities, transportation networks, factories, people, etc. The natural environment has become overtaken by urban living, thus resulting in life out of balance – koyaanisqatsi.
While within their own worlds there may be an appearance of balance there are many layers to the world we live in now, the clashing worlds of natural environment and urban living will continually be out of balance. The interpretation of the clashing worlds that Koyaanisqatsi presents all depends on the perspective and values held by the beholder.
S Senninger 