Synopsis
Takes us to locations all around the US and shows us the heavy toll that modern technology is having on humans and the earth. The visual tone poem contains neither dialogue nor a vocalized narration: its tone is set by the juxtaposition of images and the exceptional music by Philip Glass.
Koyaanisqatsi (1983) is a 1h 26min documentary feature film by Godfrey Reggio. Takes us to locations all around the US and shows us the heavy toll that modern technology is having on humans and th... Selected for Los Angeles Film Awards (2025).
Key facts
Cast
Ed Asner, Pat Benatar, Johnny Carson, Dick Cavett, Marilyn Chambers, Sammy Davis Jr., Lou Dobbs, Linda Ellerbee
First release
April 27, 1983 (Belgium)
Filming locations
United States
Crew
Screenplay
Alton Walpole, Godfrey Reggio, Michael Hoenig, Ron Fricke
Producer
Godfrey Reggio
Cinematography
Ron Fricke
Editing
Alton Walpole, Ron Fricke
Music
Philip Glass
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
Soundtracks
| Vinyl LP | Koyaanisqatsi (Life Out Of Balance) (Original Soundtrack Album From The Motion Picture) - Philip Glass, Michael Hoenig, Walter Bachauer (1983) | 23 releases, 1983-2020: Antilles, Antilles New Directions, Island Records, Island Visual Arts (+2 more) |
| 7" vinyl | Koyaanisqatsi (1983) | 1 release, 1983: Island Records |
| CD | Koyaanisqatsi (Life Out Of Balance) (Original Soundtrack Album From The Motion Picture) - Philip Glass, Michael Hoenig, Walter Bachauer (1983) | 26 releases, 1987-1997: Antilles, Antilles New Directions, Gruppo Futura, Island Masters (+3 more) |
| CD | Koyaanisqatsi (Original Motion Picture Score) - Philip Glass, Michael Hoenig (2009) | 2 releases, 2009: Orange Mountain Music |
| Cassette | Koyaanisqatsi (Life Out Of Balance) (Original Soundtrack Album From The Motion Picture) - Philip Glass, Michael Hoenig, Walter Bachauer (1983) | 8 releases, 1983-1989: Antilles, Antilles New Directions, Gruppo Futura, Island Records |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | Belgium | April 27, 1983 |
| Theatrical | United States | April 27, 1983 |
| Theatrical | France | August 24, 1983 |
| Theatrical | Australia | October 27, 1983 |
| Theatrical | Germany | November 10, 1983 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | December 25, 1983 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | January 1, 1984 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | June 7, 1984 |
| Theatrical | Spain | October 23, 1984 |
| Theatrical | Hungary | February 7, 1985 |
| Theatrical | Finland | February 21, 1986 |
| Theatrical | Poland | October 1, 1988 |
| Theatrical | Czech Republic | February 1, 1995 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | September 14, 2025 |
| Classification | Germany | 6 |
Versions & editions
| Home video | Netherlands | February 26, 2003 |
| Home video | Netherlands | March 2, 2016 |
Full credits
| Director | Godfrey Reggio |
| Cast | Ed Asner (Self (archive footage)), Pat Benatar (Self), Johnny Carson (Self (archive footage)), Dick Cavett (Self (archive footage)), Marilyn Chambers (Self (archive footage)), Sammy Davis Jr. (Self (archive footage)), Lou Dobbs (Self (archive footage)), Linda Ellerbee (Self (archive footage)), Peter Sellers (Self (archive footage)), Thomas Dolby (Self (archive footage)) |
| Screenplay | Alton Walpole, Godfrey Reggio, Michael Hoenig, Ron Fricke |
| Producer | Godfrey Reggio |
| Executive producer | Francis Ford Coppola |
| Cinematography | Ron Fricke |
| Editing | Alton Walpole, Ron Fricke |
| Music | Philip Glass |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
