Baraka, A Transcendent Poetic Tour
I’m not sure how I discovered the movie Baraka (1993), but I watched it this weekend.
It’s almost indescribable – poetry in motion comes the closest. The documentary travels the world contrasting peoples and landscapes. Music. No speaking. Yet at times there is human noise. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. It may be 20 years old, but its message seem more important that ever. My takeaway? Why do we continue to do create an inhumane world in the face of Eearth’s incredible beauty?
Beauty. Poverty. Death. Technology. Injustice. Collaboration. Spirituality. Enlightenment. Sensuality. Nature. Speed. Deprivation. Forests. Animals. Reflection. History. Humanity. Inspiration. Heartbreak. Inhumanity.
Here is a short trailer that doesn’t do it justice. My favorite scene contrasts the speed of life with chickens crowded into a corporate animal farm. You can probably piece it together on line and watch the entire movie. They ought to show this in every high school before graduation.
Have you seen it? Thanks G.
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No, but I will now. :))
Hi Michael,
I know you’ll appreciate this film. It’s slow at the very beginning then bursts wide open and it never stops after that.
Thanks! G.
Watched Baraka last night. Lovely movie. Thanks for telling us about it.
Hi Maya,
Glad you watched it. A movie that really makes you stop and think about why we do things the way we do in the world. Genius bit of film-making as well. Thanks! G.
I think I’ve seen parts of it … it sounds hauntingly familiar. Either way, I’m intrigued and want to see it.
Hi J.D.,
Good to hear from you! It’s definitely a movie that will get you thinking about the world. Something about the lack of dialogue opened up my mind. It’s kind of the opposite of sporting events where you listen to the commentators babble endlessly about the plays and the motives to the point you can’t hear yourself think.
Thanks! G.