Baraka

 

Story:

The relationship between humans and their environment is the subject of this mesmerizing visual study from Ron Fricke, the cinematographer and editor of Koyaanisqatsi. The images, which Fricke gathered from 24 countries, range from the daily devotions of Tibetan monks and whirling dervishes to a cigarette factory and time-lapse views of the Hong Kong skyline. Diverse world music accompanies the visuals (NetFlix).

Review:

Watching Baraka is like walking through an art gallery where all the captions and notes about the displays have been removed and your left only with the works themselves and your thoughts and experiences as a human being.  It is simply that breathtaking and that difficult to comprehend.

Though many would call this an environmentalist film, there is much more here than one mere layer, but instead, like any great work of art, it’s full of layers, ideas and beliefs.  One person could watch Ron Fricke’s film and see the environmentalist aspect, and another could very well see the antiwar messages presented, or the cultural unity, or even the simple beauty of putting a candle on a leaf and sending it out to sea.  To be honest, this is probably the most complex and fascinating film I’ve ever seen and I’m sure many of the layers here are way beyond my level of understanding.

Sounds sort of like a religious experience doesn’t it?  Well, in a way it is.  Fricke manages to capture beauty even in the horrific, and his images combined with the majestic music will certainly develop intense emotions in any viewer willing to dedicate him/herself to the experience.

With that said though, this is not an easy documentary to watch.  Just like attending an art gallery with no captions or information, many people will find the lack of narration and direction frustrating.  Add this confusion to a rather lengthy film (over an hour and a half), most might get tired or even just bored.  I’ll admit that forty minutes in Baraka I found myself wishing for a swift end, but thankfully, those who stick with it will be created by countless images and music that will knock you back into your seat.

I implore any viewer to heed this advice: do not go into this film halfhearted, or believing it will be just another nature documentary, because if you do you will probably kick yourself half way in and ultimately miss the majority of the messages and layers presented here.  If you are a fan of Fricke’s other work, or are willing to take the journey, then you will find one of the most breathtaking documentaries to every grace your eyes.

Reviewed by Matthew Abshire for Documentary Film Online on October 08, 2007

In Conclusion: