Baraka
(1993)
97 mins | Documentary | 24 September 1993
Director:
Ron FrickeProducer:
Mark MagidsonCinematographer:
Ron FrickeEditors:
Ron Fricke, Mark Magidson, David E. AubreyProduction Company:
Magidson Films
Described by the 4 Mar 1993 DV as a “non-narrative visual tone poem,” Baraka conveys the “interconnectedness of humans and nature” by combining sound and music with images of locations from twenty-four different countries. An article in the 30 Apr 1992 DV defines the ancient Sufi word, “Baraka,” as “the essence of life from which the evolutionary process unfolds.”
Writer-director-producer Ron Fricke and producer Mark Magidson reportedly conceived the idea for the picture in 1985, drawing from their experience in “event” filmmaking. Fricke previously worked on Koyaanisqatsi (1983, see entry) and made his directorial debut with the short film, Chronos (1986), both of which utilized a 70mm IMAX process he developed with Magidson. Production notes in AMPAS library files indicated that the duo constructed a computer controlled time-lapse camera especially for the film, which was used in addition to the 70mm camera provided by Todd-AO.
According to the 13 Aug 1990 DV, the filmmakers raised the $4 million budget through domestic private investors, and began their journey on 1 Sep 1990 in Glacier Bay, AK. Although various contemporary sources cited conflicting end dates, photography likely concluded sometime in late summer or fall 1991, after more than a year of traveling. A 22 Sep 1993 HR article stated that night shots were filmed only during full moons, at an exposure rate of one frame per minute.
Baraka was screened mid-Sep 1992 at the Festival of Festivals in Toronto, Canada. The 4 Mar 1993 DV stated that the picture also received the International Critics Prize at the 1992 Montreal Film Festival. The ...
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Described by the 4 Mar 1993 DV as a “non-narrative visual tone poem,” Baraka conveys the “interconnectedness of humans and nature” by combining sound and music with images of locations from twenty-four different countries. An article in the 30 Apr 1992 DV defines the ancient Sufi word, “Baraka,” as “the essence of life from which the evolutionary process unfolds.”
Writer-director-producer Ron Fricke and producer Mark Magidson reportedly conceived the idea for the picture in 1985, drawing from their experience in “event” filmmaking. Fricke previously worked on Koyaanisqatsi (1983, see entry) and made his directorial debut with the short film, Chronos (1986), both of which utilized a 70mm IMAX process he developed with Magidson. Production notes in AMPAS library files indicated that the duo constructed a computer controlled time-lapse camera especially for the film, which was used in addition to the 70mm camera provided by Todd-AO.
According to the 13 Aug 1990 DV, the filmmakers raised the $4 million budget through domestic private investors, and began their journey on 1 Sep 1990 in Glacier Bay, AK. Although various contemporary sources cited conflicting end dates, photography likely concluded sometime in late summer or fall 1991, after more than a year of traveling. A 22 Sep 1993 HR article stated that night shots were filmed only during full moons, at an exposure rate of one frame per minute.
Baraka was screened mid-Sep 1992 at the Festival of Festivals in Toronto, Canada. The 4 Mar 1993 DV stated that the picture also received the International Critics Prize at the 1992 Montreal Film Festival. The world premiere was expected to take place in May 1993 at the Curzon Theatre in London, England, with limited engagements planned in the U.S. later that summer. The domestic distributor, The Samuel Goldwyn Company, anticipated a 70mm release in two or three major cities before expanding the film to twenty-five markets.
End credits list the following locations featured in the film: “Argentina: Iguacu Falls; Arizona: Phoenix, American Express Corporation, Tucson, Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, Canyon de Chelley, White House, Peabody Coal Mine, Kit Peak National Observatory; Australia: Bathurst Island, Tiwi Tribe, Kakadu National Park, Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls, Kunwarde Hwarde Valley, Cooinda, Yellow Water, Uluru National Park, Ayers Rock; Brasil: Rio de Janiero, Ipanema, Favela de Rocinha, Carajas Animal Reserve, Al Aukre, Kayapo Village, Porto Vehlo, Rio Preto, Samuel Dam & Lake, Sao Paolo; California: Los Angeles, Oakland, Big Sur; Cambodia: Angkor, Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Preah Khan, Ta Proum, Tonle Omm Gate, Phnom Penh, Tuol Sleng Museum, Siem Reap, Sonsam Kosal Killing Fields; China: Beijing, Tiananman Square, Great Hall of the People, Xi’an, Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shi Huang, Quilin, Li River; Ecuador: Galapagos Islands, Guayaquil, Barrio Mapasingue, Cuidad Blanca, Cementerio, General De Guayaquil; Colorado: Mesa Verde National Park; Egypt: Cairo, Pyramids of Gizha, City of the Dead, Luxor, Ramasseum, Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor; France: Chartres, Cathedral of Chartres, Reims, Cathedral of Reims; Hong Kong: Kowloon; Hawaii: Island of Hawaii, Kona, Volcanoes National Park – Puuoo, Island of Maui, Haleakala National Park; India: Calcutta City Landfill, Museum of India, Madras, Vardharajan Temple, Kailashnath Temple, Varanasi, Ghats, Ganges River; Indonesia: Bali, Tampak Siring – Temple Gunung Kawi, Uluwatu, Kediri Tabanan, Tegal Allang, Mancan Padi, Java, Jakarta – Istiglal Mosque, Jogjakarta – Prambanan, Candi Perwara, Candi Nandi, Kediri – Gudang Garam Cigarette Factory, Solo – Sekaten Festival at the Kasunanan Palace, Borobudur, Mt. Bromo Valley; Iran: Isfahan, Emam Mosque, Persepolis, Shiraz, Shahcherach Mosque; Israel: Jerusalem, Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre; Italy: Vatican City, St. Peter Basilica; Japan: Kyoto, Ryoan-Ji Temple, Nagano Springs, Snow Monkeys, Yamanouchi – Machi Town Office, Nara, Hokke-Ji Temple, Sansho-Ji Temple, Tokyo, Green Plaza Capsule Hotel, JR Shinjuku Station, JVC Yokosuka Factory, Meiji Shrine, Nittaku, Tomoe Shizune & Hakutobo, Zoujou-Ji Temple; Kenya: Masaai Mara, Mara Rlanta Manyatta, Mara Kichwa Tembo Manyatta, Lake Magadi; Kuwait: Ahmadi, Burgan Field, Jahra Road – Mitla’ Ridge; Nepal: Kathmandu, Bodnath, Pasupati, Swayambhu, Himalayas, Mount Everest, Mount Tramserku, Bhaktapur, Hanuman Ghat, Durbar Square; New Mexico: Shiprock; New York: New York City, World Trade Center, Grand Central Terminal, Empire State Building, Helmsley Building – 230 Park Avenue, Stormville, Greenhaven Correctional Facility; Poland: Auschwitz, Bytom; Saudi Arabia: Mecca; Tanzania: Lake Natron; Thailand: Bangkok, Patpong, Sol Cowboy, Wat Arun, Wat Suthat, Bang Pa-In, Ayutthaya Province, NMB Factory; Turkey: Istanbul, Galata Mevlevi Temple, Haia Sophia; Utah: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park.”
A statement reads: “A Production of Magidson Films, Inc., Culver City, California," and "Special Thanks" are given to Shirley Magidson, Nina Cooper, and Moldex Metric, Inc. An additional "Thank You" statement is listed after the end credit and title designers to the following individuals: Karne Brokbank, Charles Burnstein, Lisa Gerrard, Jim Hornstein, Steven Hill, Steven Marble, Larry Mason, Bernard Mishkin, Larry Novick, Debra Rawdin, Michael Reilly, Christopher Reyna, Bill Robinson, Fred Ryan, Charles Schwartz, Todd Serota, Murray Vandyke, Susan Volcan, British Airways, and Shannon Reed.
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A Ron Fricke Film
London, England world premiere: May 1993
Los Angeles and New York openings: 24 September 1993
Using sound, music, and a non-narrative structure, Baraka poetically conveys the ways in which humans and nature are interconnected. The film integrates footage from twenty-four countries around the ... + −
Using sound, music, and a non-narrative structure, Baraka poetically conveys the ways in which humans and nature are interconnected. The film integrates footage from twenty-four countries around the world. + −
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement AwardTOP SEARCHES
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