Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
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- Not Rated
- 1h 26min
- Documentary, Music
- 1983 (UK)
- Movie
A collection of expertly photographed phenomena with no conventional plot. The footage focuses on the relationship between nature, humanity, and technology.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 6 wins & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Edward Asner | ... |
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| Pat Benatar | ... |
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| Jerry Brown | ... |
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| Johnny Carson | ... |
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| Dick Cavett | ... |
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| Marilyn Chambers | ... |
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| Sammy Davis Jr. | ... |
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| Lou Dobbs | ... |
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| Thomas Dolby | ... |
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| Linda Ellerbee | ... |
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| Jerry Falwell | ... |
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Mark J. Goodman | ... |
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| Ted Koppel | ... |
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| Peter Sellers | ... |
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Bill Tush | ... |
Self - On TV (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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Directed by
| Godfrey Reggio | ||
Written by
| Godfrey Reggio | ... | (concept) |
| Ron Fricke | ... | (scenario) and |
| Godfrey Reggio | ... | (scenario) and |
| Michael Hoenig | ... | (scenario) and |
| Alton Walpole | ... | (scenario) |
| Jacques Ellul | ... | (inspiration/ideas) and |
| Ivan Illich | ... | (inspiration/ideas) and |
| David Monongye | ... | (inspiration/ideas) and |
| Guy Debord | ... | (inspiration/ideas) and |
| Leopold Kohr | ... | (inspiration/ideas) |
Produced by
| Francis Ford Coppola | ... | executive producer |
| Mel Lawrence | ... | associate producer |
| Roger McNew | ... | associate producer |
| T. Michael Powers | ... | associate producer |
| Godfrey Reggio | ... | producer |
| Lawrence Taub | ... | associate producer (as Lawrence S. Taub) |
| Alton Walpole | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Philip Glass | ||
Cinematography by
| Ron Fricke | ||
Editing by
| Ron Fricke | ||
| Alton Walpole | ||
Editorial Department
| Cheryl Bloch | ... | second assistant editor |
| Gary Burritt | ... | negative cutter |
| Tim Fennell | ... | second assistant editor |
| Bob Hagans | ... | color timer |
| Robert Hill | ... | assistant editor |
| Dennis Jakob | ... | consultant: editing |
| Tove Johnson | ... | assistant editor |
| Susan Marcinkus | ... | assistant editor |
| Ian Masters | ... | post-production consultant |
| Anne Miller | ... | associate editor |
| Matvey Shatz | ... | color timer |
Sound Department
| David Brownlow | ... | sound effects recording |
| Doc Goldstein | ... | audio technical assistant |
| David W. Gray | ... | stereo sound consultant: Dolby |
| David B. Hancock | ... | organ location recording |
| Joe Lopes | ... | recording engineer: RCA Studios |
| Dominick Maita | ... | recording engineer: RPM Studios |
| Steve Maslow | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Tom Meloney | ... | dubbing machine recordist (as Tom Meloeny) |
| David Rivas | ... | effects editor / sound effects recording |
| Thomas Scott | ... | sound consultant (as Tom Scott) |
| Michael Stocker | ... | audio & electronic engineering / sound effects recording |
| Randy Thom | ... | sound effects recording |
Visual Effects by
| Thomas Edmon | ... | optical consultant |
| Jane Gudwin | ... | optical consultant |
| Wayne V. McGee | ... | optical consultant |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Dean Alatzas | ... | grip |
| Neil Bockman | ... | assistant camera |
| David Brownlow | ... | assistant camera |
| Christine Gibson | ... | associate cinematographer |
| Phillip Harrington | ... | still photographer: microchip |
| Hillary Harris | ... | additional cinematographer |
| Roy Hememnez | ... | grip |
| Robert Hill | ... | assistant camera |
| Karl Kernberger | ... | still photographer: rock painting |
| Reinhard Lichter | ... | special camera modification |
| Wayne V. McGee | ... | still photographer: animation |
| Roger McNew | ... | assistant camera |
| Mark Muich | ... | grip |
| Robert Palmer | ... | grip |
| Louie Schwartzberg | ... | additional cinematographer (as Louis Schwartzberg) |
| Bruce Hill | ... | ultra high speed photography (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Neil Bockman | ... | location access |
| Ronald B. Gold | ... | location access |
Music Department
| Walter Bachauer | ... | music consultant |
| Seymour Barab | ... | musician: cello (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| John Beal | ... | musician: bass (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Jean Dane | ... | musician: cello (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Albert de Ruiter | ... | bass vocalist / featured vocalist |
| Allan Dean | ... | musician: french horn (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Walter Deck | ... | musician: tuba (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| George Flynn | ... | musician: trombone (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Jon Gibson | ... | musician: saxophone (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Peter Gordon | ... | musician: french horn (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Mark Gould | ... | musician: trumpet (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Calvin Hampton | ... | music director: Calvary Church |
| Nancy Hennings | ... | musician: Tibetan bells |
| Lowell Hershey | ... | musician: trumpet (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Michael Hoenig | ... | composer: additional music / musical director |
| Theodore Israel | ... | musician: viola (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Jill Jaffe | ... | musician: viola (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Jack Kripl | ... | musician: saxophone, flute and clarinet (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) / musicians' contractor |
| Beverley Lauridsen | ... | musician: cello (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Charles Lewis | ... | musician: trumpet (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Marcia Mikulak | ... | music consultant |
| Bob Mintzer | ... | musician: saxophone and bass clarinet (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Sharon Moe | ... | musician: french horn (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Kermit Moore | ... | musician: cello (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Kurt Munkacsi | ... | music producer: Philip Glass music |
| Tom Nyfenger | ... | musician: piccolo and flute (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Keith O'Quinn | ... | musician: bass trombone (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Richard Peck | ... | musician: saxophone (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Philip Glass Ensemble | ... | music performed by |
| Samuel Pilafian | ... | musician: viola (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Susan Pray | ... | musician: viola (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| James Pugh | ... | musician: tuba (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Albert Richmond | ... | musician: trombone (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Michael Riesman | ... | conductor: Philip Glass music / musician: keyboards (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) / musician: solo organ |
| Russell Rizner | ... | musician: french horn (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Bob Smith | ... | musician: trombone (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Lew Soloff | ... | musician: trumpet (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Brooks Tillotson | ... | musician: french horn (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
| Henry Wolff | ... | musician: Tibetan bells |
| Frederic Zlotkin | ... | musician: bass (as The Philip Glass Ensemble) |
Additional Crew
| Bruce Adams | ... | pilot: aerial cinematography |
| Paul Alexander | ... | special assistant: Philip Glass |
| Walter Bachauer | ... | dramaturg |
| Kathryn Beatie | ... | researcher: stock footage, Gumshoe Research |
| Larry Browne | ... | production assistant |
| Cybele Carpenter | ... | special consultant to director |
| Russ Deal | ... | explosive engineer |
| Elizabeth Emerson | ... | pilot: aerial cinematography |
| Ronald P. Gold | ... | distribution researcher |
| Steve Goldin | ... | coordinator: IRE |
| Larry Heflin | ... | stock footage: NASA |
| Sally Jackson | ... | production assistant |
| John Kimmey | ... | consultant: Hopi prophecy |
| Dennis Kootshongsie | ... | consultant: Hopi prophecy |
| James Kootshongsie | ... | consultant: Hopi prophecy |
| Mel Lawrence | ... | distribution & promotion |
| Jeffrey Lew | ... | special consultant to director |
| Michael Lowatewama | ... | consultant: Hopi prophecy / linguistic research on title |
| Ekkehart Malotki | ... | consultant: Hopi prophecy (as Dr. Ekkehart Malotki) / linguistic research on title (as Dr. Ekkehart Malotki) |
| Paul Pascarella | ... | title designer |
| Barbara Pecarich | ... | production assistant / special consultant to director |
| T.A. Price | ... | special consultant to director |
| Godfrey Reggio | ... | concept |
| Donald C. Rogers | ... | technical director: Goldwyn Sound Facility |
| Bradford Smith | ... | creative consultant |
| Thomas F. Tarbet | ... | consultant: Hopi prophecy |
| Dan Williams | ... | pilot: aerial cinematography |
| Langdon Winner | ... | special consultant to director |
Thanks
| Fred Ampel | ... | special thanks |
| Leon Bijou | ... | special thanks |
| Shimon Braun | ... | special thanks |
| Susan Brockman | ... | special thanks |
| Luba Burtyck | ... | special thanks (as Dr. Luba Burtyck) |
| Brent Calkin | ... | special thanks (as Brant Calkin) |
| Walter Chappell | ... | special thanks |
| Saul Cohen | ... | special thanks |
| Bruce Conner | ... | special thanks |
| Virginia Dwan | ... | special thanks |
| Laurel Feltz | ... | special thanks |
| Robert Frank | ... | special thanks |
| Willy Garcia | ... | special thanks |
| Allen Ginsberg | ... | special thanks |
| Juan Hamilton | ... | special thanks |
| Ray Hemenez | ... | special thanks |
| Billy Hess | ... | special thanks (as William Hess) |
| Fran Hill | ... | special thanks |
| Annemey Honneger | ... | special thanks |
| David Hunter | ... | special thanks |
| Leo Hurwitz | ... | special thanks |
| Robert Israel | ... | special thanks |
| Luis Jaramillo | ... | special thanks |
| Dan Johnson | ... | special thanks |
| Mimi Johnson | ... | special thanks: Performing Arts Services, NYC |
| Stefan Jovanovich | ... | special thanks |
| Dan Katchongva | ... | special thanks |
| Gabe Katz | ... | special thanks |
| Matthew Kelly | ... | special thanks (as Dr. Matthew Kelly) |
| Susan Khess | ... | special thanks |
| Nancy Kleinbrod | ... | special thanks |
| Dan Leibsohn | ... | special thanks |
| Jack Leoffler | ... | special thanks |
| David Lubell | ... | special thanks |
| Jerry Mander | ... | special thanks |
| Jonas Mekas | ... | special thanks: Anthology Film Archive NYC |
| Jack Moore | ... | special thanks |
| Peter Moore | ... | special thanks: Roxy Theatre, San Francisco |
| Victoria Mudd | ... | special thanks |
| Jim Nix | ... | special thanks |
| Georgia O'Keeffe | ... | special thanks |
| Peter Orlovsky | ... | special thanks |
| Tasha Ostrander | ... | special thanks |
| Michael A. Lew Pierre | ... | special thanks |
| Mary H. Reggio | ... | special thanks |
| Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche | ... | special thanks (as Khenpo Palden Sherab) |
| Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche | ... | special thanks (as Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal) |
| William Rosendahl | ... | special thanks |
| Agnes Saalfield | ... | special thanks |
| Roger Spottiswoode | ... | special thanks |
| Rick Stanbery | ... | special thanks: Anthology Film Archive NYC |
| Ronald Steckel | ... | special thanks |
| Richard Sykes | ... | special thanks |
| Jim Tate | ... | special thanks |
| Laurel Taub | ... | special thanks |
| Victor T. Valdez | ... | special thanks |
| Steina Vasulka | ... | special thanks (as Woody & Steina Vasulka) |
| Woody Vasulka | ... | special thanks (as Woody & Steina Vasulka) |
| Marion Weber | ... | special thanks |
| Cynthia West | ... | special thanks |
| Philip Wilburn | ... | special thanks |
| Carol Williams | ... | special thanks: Anthropology Film Center, Santa Fe |
| Joan Williams | ... | special thanks: Anthropology Film Center, Santa Fe |
| Rudy Wurlitzer | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Island Alive (1983) (United States) (theatrical)
- New Cinema (1983) (United States) (theatrical)
- Filmways Australasian Distributors (1983) (Australia) (theatrical)
- MK2 Diffusion (1983) (France) (theatrical)
- Pacific Arts Video Records (1983) (United States) (VHS)
- Cine Saison (1984) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Folkets Bio (1984) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Gaumont do Brasil (1985) (Brazil) (theatrical)
- Prooptiki (1985) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Palace Video (1985) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1985) (United States) (tv)
- Image Entertainment (1989) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Stamm Film (1996) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- Arsenal (2001) (Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (Canada) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- Koch Media (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2012) (United States) (DVD)
- Mary-X Distribution (2018) (France) (theatrical) (re-release) (restored version)
- Creative Exposure (Canada) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
- Look Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Van Blad (Brazil) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Anthology Film Archives (special thanks)
- Anthropology Film Center (special thanks)
- Blue Sky Productions (special thanks)
- Santa Fe Community Law Center (special thanks)
- La Clinica De La Cente (special thanks)
- Los Angeles Provisional Theatre (special thanks)
- Performing Arts Services (special thanks)
- Roxy Theatre (special thanks)
- Rising Sun (special thanks)
- YCFA (special thanks)
- Calvary Church (organ courtesy of)
- Gumshoe Research (stock footage research)
- Energy Productions (stock footage)
- National Archives (stock footage)
- NASA (stock footage)
- Consolidated Demolition (stock footage)
- MacGillivray Freeman Films (stock footage)
- Screen Presentations Production (stock footage)
- Norton Air Force Base (stock footage)
- Sherman Grinberg Film Libraries (stock footage)
- Cinema Research (optical enlargement)
- Gamma Research (optical effects)
- Title House (optical effects)
- Pacific Title (titles and opticals)
- TVC Labs (processing by)
- Deluxe Entertainment Services (prints by)
- Goldwyn Sound Facility (music re-recorded at)
- American Zoetrope (Compressed and Authored at: 2002 DVD)
- American Zoetrope (acknowledgement: Compressed and Authored at, 2002 DVD)
- Antilles Records (soundtrack)
- Greenstreet Studios (additional recording)
- Island Records (acknowledgement: ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE ON ISLAND RECORDS AND CASSETTES)
- Island Records (original soundtrack available on)
- Jerry Takigawa Design (DVD package design)
- Modern VideoFilm (post-production facilities: restoration)
- Skywalker Sound (sound effects recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
This experimental film looks at the world and more specifically the effect that humankind has had on the landscape and the environment. Without narration or story, the film shows the world in a pristine condition and untouched: blue skies, beautiful landscapes, and endless vistas. The human-made world is much less appealing. Essentially a montage using a variety of film techniques to provide a visually stunning variety of images. Written by garykmcd |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | October 4, 1982. More than 5,000 people filled the sold out Radio City Music Hall to experience a remarkable film event. That event was the world premiere of KOYAANISQATSI. Now everyone can share the power of that experience. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Godfrey Reggio was hooked on Philip Glass doing the music. He approached Glass through a mutual friend, and Glass replied, "I don't do film music." Reggio persisted, and finally the friend told Glass that the tenacious guy was not going to go away without at least an audience. Glass relented, though he still insisted he wasn't doing the music. Reggio put together a photo montage with Glass' music as the soundtrack, which he presented to Glass at a private screening in New York. Immediately following the screening, Glass agreed to score the film. See more » |
| Goofs | The two explosions at about 18 minutes into the film were shot with anamorphic lenses and not properly desqueezed for the film's 1.85:1 aspect ratio. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Wide Awake (2006). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Koyaanisqatsi See more » |
| Crazy Credits | End credits go over mashed voice recordings in English ranging from call operator answers to television news. See more » |
| Quotes |
[last lines]
title card: Translation of the Hopi Prophecies sung in the film: "If we dig precious things from the land, we will invite disaster." - "Near the Day of Purification, there will be cobwebs spun back and forth in the sky." - "A container of ashes might one day be thrown from the sky, which could burn the land and boil the oceans." See more » |