Powaqqatsi

"Life in transformation"

1988 1h 40m EN

👍

7.2

SOLID

★7.2TMDB · 191

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

An exploration of technologically developing nations and the effect the transition to Western-style modernization has had on them.

“Life in transformation”

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Cast

Christie Brinkley
(archive footage)
David Brinkley
(archive footage)
Patrick Disanto
Self
Pope John Paul II
(archive footage)
Dan Rather
(archive footage)
Cheryl Tiegs
(archive footage)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Godfrey Reggio
Writers: Godfrey Reggio, Ken Richards
Languages: Spanish, English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $2.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 24% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

38 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Qatsi Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Godfrey Reggio, shot by Leonidas Zourdoumis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Alton Walpole shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Christie Brinkley and David Brinkley and Patrick Disanto carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Godfrey Reggio directs. Leonidas Zourdoumis behind the camera. Alton Walpole cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in Spanish, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $2.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Earned back only 24% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
338 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.
5Part of the "Qatsi Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
6Directed by Godfrey Reggio, shot by Leonidas Zourdoumis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Editor Alton Walpole shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Christie Brinkley and David Brinkley and Patrick Disanto carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "Life in transformation".
10IMDB entry: tt0095895 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Leonidas Zourdoumis
Editing: Alton Walpole
Sound: Gary Summers
Runtime: 100 min · 1h 40m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $2,500,000
Box office: $589,000
Return: 24% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): G
IMDB: Powaqqatsi (1988)

Part of

Qatsi Collection

A series of three films produced by Godfrey Reggio and scored by Philip Glass. The titles of all three films are words from the language of the Hopi people, in which the word "qatsi" means "life".