Koyaanisqatsi (1982) review

Reggio's "documentary" feature debut is a collection of time-lapsed (and sometimes slowed down) images of the different parts of the United States, starting with shots of cave paintings, rolling clouds and glorious landscapes ... and then factories, airplanes and skyscrapers, all set to music by renowned composer Philip Glass and containing zero dialogue.  When this was released in the early 1980's it must have blown arthouse audiences' minds, and while there are multiple stand-out moments - mainly those of nighttime driving, with streaks of light filling up the screen - its "thesis" (if you could call it that) is that "modern life" is "out of balance" with nature, and yet the footage of vertical cities and their intricate designs are just as lovely as those barren fields and rock formations, and show how resilient and adaptive the human species truly is.  Both gridlock and working on an assembly line (those Twinkies and hot dogs!) are stress-inducing in reality, but Ron Fricke's cinematography makes them look "cool," which kind of defeats the intent.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I have no interest in living in an underground dwelling and scrounging for sustenance.