It is very rare that an artist creates something that goes beyond their original intent and message.   This movie, KOYAANISQATSI does that.  It has somehow changed me at almost a spiritual level and I have been trying to figure it out for over a year now.  Here is what I think:

First, the time period that the movie was shot in was truly revolutionary.  Everywhere you turned, something was being overhauled in a way that would change the world forever.  If you look at all the of things that you have around you today, it can can all be traced back to around 1975.  From 1975 to about 1995, a true revolution took place.  One that changed mankind forever.  Computers went from the warehouse to a phone that you can hold in your hand and talk to people anywhere in the world.  And everything in between that.  Amazing. 

EVERYTHING since 1995 has been evolutionary.  Nothing really new.  A better widget in some form or fashion.  Nanotech was supposed to be the next revolution.  But we have nanotech everywhere and the world really hasn’t dramatically changed.  Biotech and Genetic Engineering hold promise, but I have doubts.  People might live longer and healthier, but I don’t see how that is going to change how the world works at a fundamental level.  I’m off topic...

Ok, back to the movie.  You have this backdrop of awesome revolution and the effect it has on society.  Everything was new and exciting.  The future was exciting (btw, when exactly did we as a society stop caring about the future).  There was a Cold War, which was awesome.  We had to out-do the Russians with our technology and weaponry, and we were so polarized that we didn’t have time to worry about the Christmas Tree in School!

Take all of this, and then look at it from a perspective that your naked eye cannot see. Warp time to show that mankind is a natural system.  From the macro to the micro, how we as individuals relate to the world is so simplistic.  We are part of a very large and complicated system that we created, but do not see.  Only in the perspective of this movie can you begin to understand.  Although it was made almost 30 years ago, it still holds up.  The only difference between then and now is that life isn’t as exciting and we are amazed less frequently.

You can view the movie on demand here, but I urge you not to.  This does not do the movie justice.  At a minimum, get the DVD from Netflix or buy it.  Don’t watch it without your brain turned on.  It is not meant to entertain.  It has been designed to provoke thought.  Watch it more than once.  Watch it until you connect.  I know this sounds like Videodrome or something, but when you get past the visuals and music and into the people, it starts to really make sense.

Godfrey Reggio is genius.