Baraka the Film




Siopa Eile now presents you with its first full length feature film;-) I found Baraka on Google Video. It really is a wonderful film. A visual and sonic masterpiece. If you are one of those lucky people who owns a Higher Definition TV, then this is the perfect film for it. Although the film has no dialogue, I was enrapt by it from start to finish.
It deals with grand themes, like nature versus technology, spirituality versus materialism, ancient versus modern. Taking you to some of the great wonders of antiquity and with the help of wonderful camera work and an uncanny soundtrack, it highlights them with great reverence and originality. It looks at various tribal cultures and customs from different parts of the world, where you get a sense of universal natural rythm and harmony in contrast to the unnatural mechanical rythm and disharmony of developed societies.
There are dozens of standout scenes in the movie. In one scene, a monk is walking deliberately along a sidewalk, delicately ringing a vesper bell as the pedestrians swarm around him. The film removes the sound of the pedestrians, leaving only the beautiful but foreboding sound of the bells. You then hear this sound again at various stages throughout the film which creates a really haunting athmosphere.
There is a scene in a chicken processing factory that will make you never want to eat chicken again. Even if you don’t buy the philosophy of the film, it’s worth watching it just for the sensual experience it delivers.

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