One of the most perfect films I have ever seen and one of my new favorites. The perfect definition of cinema. If I had I had to choose one movie to give to Alien lifeforms that I felt best represented us as a planet, it would be this film. A masterpiece.
An unusual title; Baraka is an Aramaic word for 'blessing'. What does Fricke think is a blessing? The planet on which we live on, which is the focus of this film? If this was his intention, he puts a good case forward, as we have it presented to us in a series of magnificent images. However, although the music may be great in some places, in others it's unnecessary and jarring, and detracts from the film.
This film has ruined all others for me. How do i return to a regular film now without thinking it pointless, unconvincing and utterly trivial, after witnessing the majesty which is Baraka. I cannot. Baraka shows our world in all it's glory, all it's beauty and horror. This is all real and in stunning clarity. How can any fictional film ever hope to compare?
This is a well-loved film, a treasure for many, and probably a profound experience of art for some. "Stunning" is the obvious but appropriate cliche -- unavoidable, really -- to use when describing Baraka's visuals -- wonders bearing news of the world's wonders. More's the pity, then, that those same wonders are sunk beneath the ponderous weight of the film's pious, self-satisfied romance of the reified primitive.
Overly high def demo reel of earth lacking the purpose and increasing pace of Koyaanisqatsi
I much prefere this to Koyaanisqatsi. I saw Koyaanisqatsi first and then Baraka a long time later, but having seen them both recently, I think Baraka is much better. I much prefer the cinematography in Barak and like the way in which it deals with people more. The scenes with the chickens and the cigarette factory really effected me...even today, in 2011.
I liked this film, but I think it was a little too reliant on its musical score.
I feel this to be like a descendant of "Koyannisqatsi" yet more expressive of the human aspect of nature. I am one who feels that we are as much a part of the earth's nature as anything else, no matter how divorced we have made ourselves from it.
This documentary was the greatest cinematic experience of my lifetime, thus far. Astounding, mind-blowing, I worried my heart would implode.
A great, and very moving film ! A film about mystic elevation, about evil stances...about the mysteries of life...
Highly thematic and poetic, a piece of art. Fricke's vision of the world, titled Baraka truly shows how blessed we are, how beautiful mother nature and what surrounds us, the juxtaposition of serenity and the hustle and bustle of world, etc. If you're looking for a conventional, typical narrative film, avoid this one like a plague, cause to enjoy this you have to abandon it, and be absorbed to its meditative pace.
this is one of a few (3, actually) films that gave me a life-changing experience, im so glad i found this..
Where the Qatsi trilogy had a relatively academic agenda, this further development by Ron Fricke of environmental/experimental cinema seems to have appealed most to Birkenstocked patrons of Mother Earth. The film is not the pinnacle of its form (veering dangerously close to New Age sheen), but it goes to beautiful places.
Brilliant. A film with 2 characters: life and the image. It tells us (me) that everything is beautiful. Everything is exciting. Everything is tragic. Everything is worth seeing and everything is worth understanding. And there is only one life, THE life, OUR life, and we share it. And life is made up of images. And every image is life. Don't see it in not Blu-ray. Video quality equivalent to human eye. Breath taking!!
