Powaqqatsi
By: Golan-Globus production; director, Godfrey Reggio
Contributors: Lawrence, Mel; Taub, Lawrence; Richards, Ken; Glass, Philip, music; Riesman, Michael, music; Coppola, Francis Ford, 1939-; Lucas, George, 1944-
Publisher: Golan-Globus production
Published: 1988
Place of publication: United States
Language: eng
Number of pages: 8640
Subjects: Human ecology; Indians of North America; Progress; Native peoples; Technology; Social aspects; Social ecology; Quality of life; Modern Civilization; Sustainability; Population; Technology and civilization
Work titles: Powaqqatsi (Motion picture : 1988). 35 mm
Description: This is the companion piece to director Godfrey Reggio's Koyaanisqatsi. This visually spectacular film calls into question our assumptions about contemporary society. By juxtaposing images of ancient cultures with those of modern life, director Reggio portrays the human cost of progress. The title Powaqqatsi is derived from two Hopi words, which translate as ''entity that consumes the life forces of other beings in order to further its own life.'' Like Reggio's earlier film, ''Koyaanisqatsi'' (which translates as ''life out of balance''), this film has an ambitious score by Philip Glass. Director Reggio contrasts time lapse photography in some scenes with slow motion in others to present humanity from a macro perspective and visually question the modern costs of progress. The film conveys a sense of the complexity and variety of life on our planet. The fact that many of Powaqqatsi's settings are not identified only serves to heighten the timeless quality of the film. Remote sites in countries such as Peru, Brazil, Kenya, Egypt and Nepal, are all represented with stunning cinematography.
Notes: Harvard Film Archive, positive, HFA Item no: 20901 from the Godfrey Reggio Collection.

Running time on release: 95 minutes Cf. OCLC website, June 6th, 2010.

Directors of photography, Graham Berry, Leonidas Zourdoumis ; edited by Iris Cahn, Alton Walpole ; music composed by Philip Glass ; music conducted by Michael Riesman.