Question by James D: what is this movie by Scorsese or Coppola?
I once saw a movie at a friends house that was directed by either Martin Scorsese or Francis Coppola, and I can’t figure out what movie it was. It was not a scripted movie with actors, but was more like a documentary – but unusual for a documentary, too.
There was no narration to it, just music as a background, and it simply showed footage of things in our industrial culture. For example, one scene was just a giant airplane landing in slow motion. Another scene would be a sped up view of people walking in around in a shopping mall.
Just scene after scene of stuff like that, mostly having to do with humans living in a technological world – sort of a visual collage of human society, with no explanation for what the scenes were. It was strange, but mesmerizing. Very cool.
Does that ring a bell with anyone? I’m almost positive it was Scorsese or Coppola. Does anyone know the name of the movie? Thanks.
Koyaanisqatsi!!!!! That’s it. I could have sworn my friend said it was Scorsese or Coppola.
Thanks!
Best answer:
Answer by MystMoonstruck
Actually, it sounds like this one:
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
IMDB synopsis:
“Koyaanisqatsi” is a documentary of sorts. It is also a visual concert of images set to the haunting music of Phillip Glass. While there is no plot in the traditional sense, there is a definate scenario. The film opens on ancient native American cave drawings, while the soundtrack chants “Koyaanisqatsi”, which is a Hopi indian term for “life out of balance”. The film uses extensive time lapse photography, which speeds up images up, and slow motion photography to make comparisons between different types of physical motion. In one of the first examples, we see cloud formations moving sped up, intercut with a montage of ocean waves slowed down; and, in such a way, we are able to see the similarities of movement between these natural forces. This technique of comparison exists throughout the film, and through it we learn more about the world around us. The film progresses from purely natural environments to nature as affected by man, and finally to man’s own manmade environment, devoid of nature yet still following the patterns of natural flow as depicted in the beginning of the film, yet in chaos and disarray. Through this the film conveys its key message, which is Koyaanisqatsi: life out of balance; crazy life; life in turmoil; life disintegrating; a state of life that calls for another way of living.
I can’t guarantee this is what you saw. The director is Godfrey Reggio, but it’s a Francis Ford Coppola release.
Here are a couple of videos on YouTube, one of which is the movie trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a2K4pcAFIM&feature=related
What do you think? Answer below!