Spirit of Baraka
Celebrating nonverbal films like Baraka, Koyaanisqatsi, Microcosmos  and the people who made them
Baraka
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Baraka - a film by Ron Fricke

Movie details :: Images :: Discuss :: Reviews

Baraka is soon to be released on Blu-Ray. Pre-order your copy now.

Baraka is an incredible nonverbal film containing images of 24 countries from 6 continents, created by Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, with music from Michael Stearns and others. The film has no plot, contains no actors and has no script.  Instead, high quality 70mm images show some of the best, and worse, parts of nature and human life.  Timelapse is used heavily to show everyday life from a different perspective.  Baraka is often considered a spiritual film.

Baraka is an ancient Sufi word, which can be translated as "a blessing, or as the breath, or essence of life from which the evolutionary process unfolds."  For many people Baraka is the definitive film in this style. Breathtaking shots from around the world show the beauty and destruction of nature and humans. Coupled with an incredible soundtrack including on site recordings of The Monks Of The Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery.

Baraka is evidence of a huge global project fueled by a personal passion for the world and visual art. Working on a reported US$4 million budget, Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, with a three-person crew, swept through 24 countries in 14 months to make this stunning film.
One of the very last films shot in the expensive TODD-AO 70mm format, Ron Fricke developed a computer-controlled camera for the incredible time-lapse shots, including New York's Park Avenue rush hour traffic and the crowded Tokyo subway platforms.

Some people find the lack of context in Baraka occasionally frustrating, not knowing where a section was filmed, or the meaning of the ritual taking place. However, the DVD version includes a short behind-the-scenes featurette in which cinematographer Ron Fricke explains that the effect was intentional. "It's not where you are that's important, it's what's there."
The DVD also includes behind the scenes footage, including scenes of the grueling shoot at Ayer's Rock in Australia, when a plague of flies of Biblical proportions made it impossible to film until they rigged up a vacuum to suck the bugs away from the lens.

Write a review Write your own review of Baraka

Related pages

Credits and Awards

Overview

For me Baraka is the pinnacle of these films. The quality of the cinematography is outstanding. Shots flip from solitary Monks to crowded streets from great temples to images of war firing a hundred and one thoughts in your mind that you never complete. 
Baraka is not just about what you are seeing, It is also about how it is presented. Shots of monks will make you grab your backpack and head for Asia as soon as the film finishes, but you never make it as the shots of post war Kuwait and the refuse dumps of Calcutta remind you that us humans are far from perfect.  The decision to use the Todd-70mm format film could never have been easy. The extra cost and work is clearly worth it though, it leaves its mark against all of the other films.

Images

Visual images include...

Tibetan monks, Orthodox Jews, Whirling Dervishes, a solar eclipse, Buddhist monks, African tribal rituals, Jerusalem's Wailing Wall, rain forests, Ayers Rock, Big Sur country, Hawaiian volcanoes, Brazilian slums, time-lapse footage of car and pedestrian traffic, post-Persian Gulf War shots of Kuwait's burning oil fields, burning-of-the-dead ceremonies on the Ganges, refuse dumps of Calcutta, Auschwitz, Egyptian Pyramids, Angkor Wat, Mount Everest, Tuol Sleng in Cambodia, Indonesian factory workers.

Soundtrack

Baraka has a stunning and varied soundtrack.  Primarily composed by Michael Stearns, but also including contributions from many other artists and performers.  Buy the soundtrack here.

The Book

'Baraka a visual journal' is a book containing 58 original still photographs taken by Mark Magidson during the journey that created the film. Buy the book here. The images vary greatly with content and style, from Black and white to colour, from letter box to full page. The book contains passages where Magidson describes the film and its meaning. It also has 36 small shots, with descriptions showing the people and equipment that made the film. I would strongly recommend the book to anyone who has a passion for the film. It is very nicely printed on Monadnock Dulcet and bound in Asahi Cloth, produced by St. Anne's Press.

Samsara - the sequel

Ron Fricke is working on a sequel to Baraka entitled Samsara.

Credits

Directed and filmed by Ron Fricke.
Produced by Mark Magidson.
Edited by Ron Fricke, Mark Magidson and David Aubrey.
Production supervised by Alton Walpole.
Music by Michael Stearns, Dead Can Dance, David Hykes/The Harmonic Choir, Somet Satoh, Anugama & Sebastiano, Kohachiro Miyata, Inkuyo, L. Subramaniam, Monks of the Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery, Rustavi Choir, Ciro Hurtado, Brother.
Read the complete credits and awards

Filming locations

  • Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Centre, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona, USA
  • Ahmadi, Kuwait| American Express Corporation, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
  • Angkor Thom, Cambodia
  • Angkor Wat, Cambodia
  • Angkor, Cambodia
  • Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, USA
  • Auschwitz, Poland
  • Australia
  • Auytthaya Province, Thailand
  • Bali, Indonesia
  • Bang Pa-ln, Thailand
  • Bangkok, Thailand
  • Barrio Mapasingue, Ecuador
  • Bathurst Island, Northern Territory, Australia
  • Bayon, Cambodia
  • Beijing, China
  • Bhaktapur, Nepal
  • Big Sur, California, USA
  • Bodnath, Nepal
  • Borobudur, Indonesia
  • Burgan Field, Kuwait
  • Bytom, Poland
  • Caiapó Village, Pará, Brazil
  • Cairo, Egypt
  • Calcutta, West Bengal, India
  • Caldad Blanca Cementerio, Ecuador
  • Candi Nandi, Indonesia
  • Candi Perwara, Indonesia
  • Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle, Arizona, USA
  • Canyonlands National Park, Moab, Utah, USA
  • Carajás Animal Reserve, Pará, Brazil
  • Cathedral, Chartres, Eure-et-Loir, France
  • Cathedral, Reims, Marne, France
  • Central Australia, Australia
  • Chartres, Eure-et-Loir, France
  • Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, Israel
  • City of the Dead, Egypt
  • Cocinda, Northern Territory, Australia
  • Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona, USA
  • Durbar Square, Nepal
  • Emam Mosque, Iran
  • Empire State Building - 350 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
  • Favela da Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro City, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
  • Galata Mevlevi Temple, Istanbul, Turkey
  • Ganges River, India
  • General De Guayaquil, Ecuador
  • Ghats, India
  • Grand Central Station, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
  • Great Hall of the People, China
  • Green Plaza Capsule Hotel, Japan
  • Greenhaven Correctional Facility, Greenhaven, New York, USA
  • Guayaquil, Ecuador
  • Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
  • Haleakalä National Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA
  • Hanuman Ghat, Nepal
  • Helmsley Building - 250 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
  • Himalayas, Nepal
  • Hokke-Ji Temple, Japan
  • Iguazú waterfalls, Argentina
  • Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro City, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Isfahan, Iran
  • Istanbul, Turkey
  • JR Shinjuku Station, Japan
  • JVE Yokosuka Factory, Japan
  • Jadarta-Istigial Mosque, Indonesia
  • Jahra Road - Mitla Ridge, Kuwait
  • Java, Indonesia
  • Jerusalem, Israel
  • Jim Jim Falls, Northern Territory, Australia
  • Jogjakarta-Prambanan, Indonesia
  • Kailashnath Temple, India
  • Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
  • Kasunanan Palace, Indonesia| Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Kediri Tabanan, Indonesia
  • Kediri-Gudang Gama Cigarette Factory, Indonesia
  • Kitt Peak National Observatory, Arizona, USA
  • Kona, Hawai`i, Hawaii, USA
  • Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
  • Kunwarde Hwarde Valley, Northern Territory, Australia
  • Kyoto, Japan
  • Lake Magadi, Kenya
  • Lake Natron, Tanzania
  • Li River, China
  • Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Luxor, Egypt
  • Mancan Padi, Indonesia
  • Mara Kichwan Tembo Manyatta, Kenya
  • Mara Rianta Manyatta, Kenya
  • Massai Mara, Kenya
  • Maui, Hawaii, USA
  • Mecca, Saudi Arabia
  • Meiji Shrine, Japan
  • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, USA
  • Mount Everest, Nepal
  • Mount Tramserku, Nepal
  • Mt. Bromo Valley, Indonesia
  • NMB Factory, Thailand
  • Nagano Springs, Japan
  • Nara, Japan
  • National Museum of India, New Delhi, India
  • New York City, New York, USA
  • Nittaku, Japan
  • Northern Territory, Australia
  • Oakland, California, USA
  • Pasupati, Nepal| Patpong, Thailand
  • Peabody Coal Mine, Black Mesa, Arizona, USA
  • Persepolis, Iran
  • Phnom Penh, Cambodia
  • Phoenix, Arizona, USA
  • Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
  • Presh Khan, Cambodia
  • Pu`u`ö`ö, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai`i, Hawaii, USA
  • Pyramids at Giza, Egypt
  • Qin Shi Huang, China
  • Quilin, China
  • Ramasseum, Egypt
  • Reims, Marne, France
  • Represa Samuel/Dam & Lake, Rondônia, Brazil
  • Rio Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • Rio de Janeiro City, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Ryoan-Ji Temple, Japan
  • Sangho-Ji Temple, Japan
  • Shahcherach Mosque, Iran
  • Shiprock, New Mexico, USA
  • Shiraz, Iran
  • Siem Reap, Cambodia
  • Soi Cowboy, Thailand
  • Sonsam Kosal Killing Fields, Cambodia
  • Sormville, New York, USA
  • St. Peter Basilica, Vatican City
  • Swayambhu, Nepal
  • São Paulo City, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Ta Proum, Cambodia
  • Tampak Siring, Indonesia
  • Tegal Allang, Indonesia
  • Temple Gunung Kawi, Indonesia
  • Temple of Karnak, Egypt
  • Temple of Luxor, Egypt
  • Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China
  • Tiwi Tribe, Northern Territory, Australia
  • Tokyo, Japan
  • Tomoe Shizung & Hakutobo, Japan
  • Tonle Omm Gate, Cambodia
  • Tuol Sleng Museum, Cambodia
  • Uluru / Ayers Rock, Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
  • Uluru National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
  • Uluwatu, Indonesia
  • Vandharajan Temple, Varanasi, India
  • Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Vatican City
  • Wat Arun, Thailand
  • Wat Suthat, Thailand
  • Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel
  • White House, Arizona, USA
  • World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
  • Xi'an, China
  • Yamanouchi-Machi Town Office, Japan
  • Yellow Water, Northern Territory, Australia
  • Zoujou-Ji Temple, Japan

Comments

Please leave your own comment about this page

Gudang Gama Correction  - Juslifar M. Junus from Indonesia - 23-Aug-2008
Hi,..I just want correct this location :
Kediri-Gudang Gama Cigarette Factory, Indonesia.
that supposed to be:
Kediri-Gudang Garam Cigarette Factory, Indonesia.
Thank you.

BARAKA Film  - Ashraf from Tunisia - 21-Aug-2008
An amazingly beautiful film!!! I really loved it!
I loved the music and sound effects! Waiting for Samsara Work!

Blu-Ray  - Darren from England - 09-Aug-2008
Luke, I am fairly certain the Blu-Ray release will be region-free. Let me try and confirm this.

Baraka on Blu-ray  - Luke from New Zealand - 21-Jul-2008
I am keen to pre-order, but I want to make sure it is not going to be region locked. Anyone know? Darren do you read these? do you know?

Baraka - A stunning journey of external manifestation and internal emotion  - gman from Memphis, Tennessee - 02-Jul-2008
Thank you for this presentation. In a world of so many attempts to define and prescribe life's meaning, this film truly allows us to see our own magnificence as a created being and the tremendous opportunity and responsibility for the decision consequences of our freedom, as we "describe" our life journey. This film connects external manifestations with our internal connection to ALLTHATIS - GOD. There is order is GOD, no matter what name we call THE CREATOR. We all seek THE CREATOR............IAM. We each all inately know I in THE CREATOR. We are blessed to become a blessing.

It also reminds us of Rule #6. What's Rule #6? It is, "don't take yourself so damn seriously." What are the other Rules? There aren't any.

Baraka  - Gerry Gorman from Dublin Ireland - 31-May-2008
Baraka is a work of art and has moved everyone that I have shown it to. It should be recommended viewing to children the world over , then perhaps we would live in a better, peaceful world. We can only hope. So many of the locations are also under threat as we destroy the world we inhabit. One question : why oh why is this film not yet released in HD format ?? It would be even more stunning !

Couldn't watch it.....  - V. Gan - 27-May-2008
I was excited to see the film up until the point of the chicks....as a vegan, it made me want to throw up. I let the DVD run longer & I guess there was another scene that was not animal-friendly, as my boyfriend told me to look away. I know animal slaughter exists everywhere but for me this ruined the film for me. I do not see beauty in animal cruelty. As an academic, I still disagree with colleagues who insist filming rituals involving animal sacrifice and slaughter is okay. Perhaps it is reality....I hope humans will evolve beyond this....but I doubt it.

Iran  - Alexander Pieri from Croatia - 26-May-2008
I was in Iran recently and I saw the splendi mosque covered with glass, Esfahan and Persepolis. All film in Baraka. Iran is a beautiful country, realy surpriesed me; the warmth of the local people and the astonishing places and landscapes. From Baraka I saw Angkhor, Borododur, Egypy, Peru but Im glad Iran is inside the movie. Looking for a new moive by Ron. Baraka is a masterpiece! I had watched already 10times!!!!

Baraka  - craig gallagher from australia nsw - 24-May-2008
First saw it in 1996 at a cinema in just outside of sydney. Apparently it was the only 70mm copy of the film in the world. Needless to say this enhanced the film a great deal. Awesome film still my favorite of all time.

Movie  - Deb from Florida - 18-May-2008
They are showing it locally so wanted to read a review. Ok it sounds awesome and moving. Thanks for the review and feedback explaining it so I can make a decision.

Deb
Stress Busters
www.practical-stress-relief.com

Baraka  - Tim from New Oxford - 16-May-2008
I had to watch this in english class. I slept threw the whole thing. It was so boring. It was the worst movie ever!!!

Review  - MarkFulton from Australia - 03-May-2008
I don't see how Baraka is deemed the best of all these films, its clear biased on the webmaster that the site personifies Baraka so highly. Koyaanisqatsi is a far superior film in regards to fully realizing the potential of this genre "Non Verbal/ Pure Cinema" not only does it realize it but it expands on it, the qatsi trilogy grows the genre possibly to its limits in Naqoyqatsi, it reaches the point of ultimate abstract position. Baraka seems to not clarify its context at all, not only that we are visibly aware of Ron Fricke's blatant rewiring of what Reggio had designed in Koyaanistqatsi. all the qatsi elements are shown in baraka nothing fresh or ground breaking simply immpressive pictures to a rather dull composition, which in turn marks its downfall. because the purpose of the genre is to fuse musical interpretation with transient meaningful imagery.
if you saw Baraka first you may have already spoiled yourself before viewing a much thought out and productive film.

Beyond Expectations  - David Kalfut from currently USA - 19-Apr-2008
The film left me speechless for several days.

I am quite a movie or cinema student but this film went beyond the art.
I have never seen or felt anything like it before.
I am a changed person after viewing the film.

I consider this film to be one of the true wonders of the modern world.

Meaning  - Rusty from Third Stone From the Sun - 18-Mar-2008
Fricke is a true artist.

This work is but a mirror that reflects existing images from our planet, our species, our cultures and our preconceived ideas about each other. Each observer (rightly) injects their own meaning to the images based on their prior experience and personal development. A wonderful experience of liberation in a time of so much deliberately sensationalist "push" media that tries - and, regrettably, too often succeeds - in overwhelming one's personal perspective.

Had Fricke ended the film as it began, with the Japanese Macaque opening its eyes, it would have made a lovely social comment: the world we believe in might be nothing more than the hallucination of a monkey in a hot bath. That would have explained much!

I propose we recall the Voyager spacecraft and replace their "Golden Records" with a DVD of Baraka. The theme being: "This is our planet and this is how we spent our time here." That'd be sure to keep those LGM off our doorstep.

Fabulous film!

wow!  - monika from rochester NY - 06-Mar-2008
This film is very moving and i wish more kids in my area would appreciate it. one of my teachers showed this film in my global issues class and i absolutely LOVED it. i borrowed it from him to show a few of my friends

Baraka  - Sue from UK - 04-Mar-2008
Extremely moving, thought provoking and spiritual. Everyone of any sensitivity should watch this beautiful sequence of images.

feeding stereotypes  - Siddharth from India - 24-Feb-2008
You go to India and take picture of cows and "untouchables"... why am I not surprised. I am not sure who told them they were untouchables because people don't wear tags of untouchability in India and certainly rummaging through garbage is not something only untouchables do (if that's what they were told or think) because the cows are doing the same, and I believe you guys think we have made temples in India to worship cows, right? Then how do they know? Were they going around asking people who is untouchable and who isn't? And you don't need to go to Calcutta to see how imperfect human beings are(as suggested in the overview), just look within. I don't understand why nobody tells such people they just don't have what it takes to understand a country like India. Please stop trying because you are failing miserably by applying your infantile logic you think is flawless. It is not helping.

it's deep as a prayer  - daniel faddoul from lebanon - 24-Jan-2008
I can only say it's a prayer, a deep meditation...
the is the top in knowing and viewing the earth, and owr relation with it and God...

Baraka on HD  - SunToucher from The other side of nowhere...literally - 07-Jan-2008
I am hoping that Baraka will be released on HD DVD & Blu ray, in 2008. Everyone should have the opportunity of seeing this film in 1080i and/or 1080p. Personally I can't think of any other film I would rather see in the whole world than this one on Hi Def. Pretty please with sugar on top. : )

thanks..is all i can say  - Aneesh Shivanekar from pune,india - 05-Jan-2008
what a experience!!!!!!...i just cannot thank you enough..

Something so unique & moving that it stirs you up from the insides...its deeply thought provoking, inspired, beautiful, unique & breath-taking..

Ive loved it so much that i even day-dream about the various shots, angles, places that have been featured in there..

Few people truly understand a film like this... I dont claim that i entirely understand it either, but I strive to... those who really want to understand it, start discovering beautiful little things in each details & their mind bursts with a thousand million interpretations...

I have yet to full discover it, as i have only a ancient VCD format version and the details are fuzzy, but will soon get the DVD, to uncover a new world altogether.....(its shot in TODD-AO afterall)

Honestly, God bless the creators...pure heaven...

Baraka  - Roger Freed from Lake Tahoe, CA - 30-Dec-2007
I agree that this is one of the most amazing films I have ever seen. It is in a category of its own.

Baraka  - Dan Baer from California - 22-Dec-2007
Hands down the most beautiful film I've ever seen. I teach a world religions class to high school seniors and I show this film every year in class--they love it. I cannot wait to see Samsara!

16mm  - Ed Guinea from CT/USA - 17-Dec-2007
Does anyone know if there are 16mm prints of BARAKA available?

A reply to Oaiku from USA   - Bahar from Iran - 15-Dec-2007
Hi everybody!
I really enjoyed the film and what I wanted to write was that Baraka can be found in Iran too! I was really annoyed when I saw Oaiku's comment because we saw this film at school at our writing class in IRAN in Tehran last week! ( to Oaiku) So, I don't think that your friend, Farzin Firouzi needs that copy!
Keep it for yourself!

Baraka was B-E-A-utiful!!!!!!!!!!

Baraka on HD  - Guido from San Francisco, CA, United States - 11-Dec-2007
Please...Please...Please...Make an HD Version (Preferably, Blu-ray.)

Mecca  - Darren from England - 28-Nov-2007
I believe the team got special permission to film at Mecca, even though they are not Muslims. The scenes are beautiful and I think it is one of the few chances we get to see of the amazing pilgrimage.

Mecca  - Jasmina from Croatia - 25-Nov-2007
Hi,

Just amazing places and amazing film!! Some of them I had a luck to visit...
I am just wandering how it was n Mecca to take video shots?
As I heard you cannot go inside if you are not a muslim.

Thanks!

Jasmina

This changed me  - Linbay from Taiwan - 15-Nov-2007
You can only "attempt" to explain Baraka to others, but the experience for each viewer is unique.

It's not your usual Hollywood blockbuster filled with sex, profanity and explosion. However, this movie is absolutely powerful and moving.

You probably either LOVE it or thinks it's boring.

Baraka  - Cristina from Portugal - 13-Nov-2007
Baraka is the best film I have seen in my life.!!!!!

changed something in me  - Pedro Guimarães from Portugal - 07-Nov-2007
As a photographer, wannabe artist, but mostly as human, this film had a deep impact on me. I have no words.

Darshan with Baraka  - Alexander Pieri from Croatia - 18-Oct-2007
Beside the fact that no titles are in the movies about the location, most of them are very well known to those who realy study and are instereted about the world. The are people that dont know the locations filmed here and i think Ron made it also with the aim to let us know how little we know about thee world it self and how little we know about the nations, religions on this planet. Baraka is also about the non-existence of the political borders that actualy divide us. In present world when everything is dominated by politicaly-manouvred media propaganda, movies like this are, as Ron itself said, necessary. And it is realy necessary! We must free our mind, turn off the tv and dedicate our self to simple things. Is not easy, but at least movies like Baraka cna help us in our inner peace. oh... Im sorry for my bad writing. Alex

Baraca  - Yasya from Kiev, Ukraine - 16-Oct-2007
Thanks for the good page about excellent film!
In Ukraine (contry of the former USSR) we really like this grate movie.

General  - David from United States - 10-Oct-2007
To all those who have only recently found BARAKA - watch the tryptich/trilogy of Koyaanisqatsi/Powaqqatsi/Naqoyquatsi - even if without the Phillip Glass soundtrack. Perhaps something of your own, whether your own is music you created, or just music that makes you think.

For me, I need that slice of humble pie every three months or so, just to stay grounded.

It is good.

Enjoy

Reply re: Baraka  - oaiku from USA - 30-Sep-2007
What I especially love about this film is that it allows the viewers to draw their own conclusions about the world around them. I do not need to understand everything I see. It is enough to know and accept that the world, its inhabitants and MOST of its activities are beautiful. I would be more than happy to buy and send a copy to Farzin Firouzi from Iran since it cannot be found there.

baraka  - Lucinka from czech republic - 22-Sep-2007
I love this documentary but what i do miss about it are nametags - i see places and people but i do not what im look at and im just guessing where it could be from - this is a huge disadvantage!!!

Baraka for high school students  - Dave from California - 16-Sep-2007
I'm a high school history teacher working at an inner city school with a mainly African-American and Latino student body. I loved Baraka when I first saw it, but was hesitant to show it to my high school students. The film has no plot and my students are used to fast paced action movies. I went out on a limb and was blown away by the response. Almost every single one of them loved it. It made many want to travel around the world. Thank you.

it's all about feeling  - Farzin Firouzi from Iran - 13-Sep-2007
i've seen baraka once in the TV and i'm doing everything to find and wath it again. unfortunately i'm in a 3rd world country. i admire people like Ron Fricke.

Comment...  - Lyndsey from Australia - 12-Sep-2007
Personally I didn't like this movie, we watched it in english, and I have to say I found it very hard to focus on. It is not a movie I would watch again or recommend.

Didn't understand  - sam johnson from australia - 23-Aug-2007
i don't like the movie

Baraka  - Pete Tinsley from Lincolnshire England - 22-Aug-2007
I think this film is amazing; it displays the balance between the wonders of humanity and the destructive power of greed. It frustrates me that most people I've showed it to don't want to watch it all the way through. Most people are content to censor their own little worlds from the wrong doing of others and only involve themselves in things which immediately enhance their own lives. We've still got our eyes closed as to what's around us and our potential as a gifted race.

amazing  - xxx from Greece - 12-Aug-2007
I had first heard of Baraka a long time ago and I really wanted to see this film (I love nature and Dead can Dance music) but I couldn't find it here in Greece. Recently I finally found it and I saw it one night alone at home, while smoking some (really strong) pot... It was truly an amazing experience... I have no words...

BARAKA  - Miki from Europe, Berlin - 16-Jul-2007
It is such a superficial kich film that is dengerous for brain! It is sudactive like Leni Rifenstal. It smells of fashizam masked in multiriglious and multinational pictuer.

I Disagree  - Darren from Galway,ireland - 24-Jun-2007
You have ver y well made your point . It does glamourous it if you dont put in context it seems to me that it is sort of juxtipose . Almost like epic scenes , it has layers and you got to the next one but the fact that you find it disturbing is only showing how we veiw things. However been a philosophy student i am open to been wrong!

BARAKA, sorry about this but I disagree  - nutee from Uruguay, South America - 19-Jun-2007
After watching Baraka I have to say that it´s really impressive. I know that it tells you the story of the world and the human being and the images and photography combines perfectly to create emocions on you. But when I see the homeless on the street or the child asking for money and the way they are filmed I stop liking the movie. I know the film is atonishing but I think it shows terrible things like death, hunger, war, poverty in a poetic way, really well photograph. I don´t know, but I think it not right to show the most terrible things in the world in a so well phograph way. That is because I see the movie in a moral sense. Sometimes I think the movie is manipulating me as a viewer to cry, feel ebarassed for what I see. I think sometimes it´tricky.
Sometimes I think their authors care more about a beautiful image than to tell the story or make a coment about its reality.
Have you thought it that way?

I wonder what would happen...  - Marcelo Coelho from Brazil, but living in Los Angeles - 16-Jun-2007
I wonder what would happen if every political leader of the world (and the wealthy leaders of large corporations) had the chance to watch this film on their own, a few times, on a rainy day, when there was nothing else to do. You can call me a dreamer, but I bet this tiny huge planet and it’s human race, would start moving towards real evolution. Because the concept of defeating and/or manipulating each other, is what perpetuates our barbaric aspects from the cave ages. Imagine if you were on a far planet looking back at Earth and seeing all this mess, between ourselves, it would look really stupid. This film is a major form of inspiration of how amazing this planet is and how, to be different, is not to be wrong. The one who thinks he is right and “they” are wrong, will keep fighting battles for eternity. Externally and internally.

It's just like...  - Milica from Bosnia and Herzegovina - 29-May-2007
...the act of God!

new DVD and HD-DVD  - Super Oxen from Seattle, WA - 23-May-2007
This article from Variety says that an upgraded DVD version and and HD-DVD version will be available by years end.

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=Cannes2007&jump=story&id=1061&articleid=VR1117965240

BARAKA  - Matt from NZ - 01-May-2007
! Its not just me then. Baraka is the best film I have ever seen, touching and magical.

The world would be a better place if everyone saw this movie.

breathtaking weeping in tears  - Marina from Holland - 28-Apr-2007
Please accept my humble obeisances to you, please accept my deep respect, for putting the art of God in a movie.
with a crital side on the differnt places on the earth...its deffently the best movie I have ever seen. its a one big trip of meditation and everytime I watch it, tears are streaming out of my eyes. especially the scene with this homeless boy...the beautifull nature and all kinds of religions...I have no woords for it, so I will be quiet just like you are in the movie, with the Dead can dance music its all complete.

Baraka is breathtakingly awesome  - Sally Mericle from Baltimore, MD, USA - 21-Apr-2007
I've just come from my first viewing of Baraka. I know I will go back for more. How can one NOT? This is the most amazing film I've ever seen in my life. What a treasure to the eyes it is! I am so grateful for and at the same time in awe of the filmmakers who made this incredible work of art. Words fail. See it, now!

Baraka  - Mark Bellinghaus from Los Angeles, Ca. - 03-Feb-2007
"Baraka" has changed my life. Literally. It is in my opinion the best movie ever made. It influenced my thinking and believe about a higher power that might be called god?!
Ron Fricke and everyone who worked on the making of this unbelievable treasure.: Thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul. I try to watch this movie at least once a months. I tell people about it and they all are amazed.
It is love, pure, hope, wondering, hope, dedication, meditation--it simply the Best. The photography, the music and sound are out of this world. When I have problems in my life, I watch "Baraka," and I am rejevenated again.
Highly recommended buy.
Blessings & Light: Baraka.

Stunning Film  - Winston Danvers from Calgary - 30-Jan-2007
What would you say if someone told you to write an essay on this film? I simply do not understand the deep meaning behind this movie. Like other reviewers, I really enjoyed the voyage this film took me on. The filming techniques are incredible and very special care has been taken to produce such great quility. Every Future Shop in Canada should show this movie on the display floor! Stunning colour and detail.

availability of the film in Holland  - Thijs from Netherlands - 14-Jan-2007
Dear Damir,

You can probably get the DVD at Boudisque (Boudisque.nl) or let them order it for you. I really love this movie.

Unity, far beyond the senses  - David from Madrid, Spain - 10-Jan-2007
Since the first time I watched "Baraka" more than 10 years ago, it became my favourite masterpiece of art. I have recommended this beautiful jewel to everyone, and I love to buy the DVD everytime I need to buy a present. It´s the pinnacle of nature, it shows the essence of mankind and the meaning to life.

We are one. Everything is one. No matter if you die here or there, death is the same. No matter if you live in a tree or in a skyscraper, because you´re living. And a tear is a tear in every part of the world.

In these times of madness and dispair I think it would be a good idea the play Baraka in the schools to show our children that life is much more than a Nike T-shirt or than a 3G Mobile, that our world is bigger than we can imagine, and that people is just people like you and me, no matter how far we life ones from each others....

A movie as amazing as life.

It Brings Back Memories  - Amanda from Pennsylvania - 02-Jan-2007
My English class watched Baraka this year and at first I wasn't too excited about watching a movie with no words but when we started watching it and I saw the various images of other parts of the world I was absolutely amazed! In 2005 I went to Peru with my church for two weeks and one day we went to the beach and had a great time but when we were leaving I saw children digging in a pile of bug-infested trash and that image hasn't left my mind since. When I saw the people digging through the trash in Baraka I was fighting back tears. It amazes me how just seeing something and not having to have anyone describe to you what is going on can affect you so much. I really loved the movie.

Baraka  - Rick Hicks from Toronto, Canada - 27-Dec-2006
I first saw this film in the summer of 1995 on video, I immediately watched it again! 11 years later I'm still watching it...I've seen it on every size screen from 14" TV to movie house. It has been an inspiration for me for these past 11 years and I have recommended it to countless people! An interesting thing about this movie is it's effect on thoe who have travelled the world and watched it, their eyes seem to light up as they recount their experiences. I too am one of them, thanks for Baraka... Shalom, Salaam, Peace, RTH Toronto, Canada

Best movie ever created  - Collin from West Palm Beach, Florida - 11-Dec-2006
Incredible. If there is one film everyone must see in their lifetime, this is it. I can't wait to buy this film and the Qatsi trilogy to show my friends. Thank you so much for creating this masterpeice.

Baraka Mon Amour  - Dimitri Karamozov (Pseudoname) from Virginia, USA - 25-Nov-2006
Baraka is a film of man’s place in the universe as he or she is restricted by living only in a geographical location, time and culture of his own. Only the mind of man in its ethical and spiritual quest can transcend this limitation of physical restrictions. And in that interminable space of vast thought, he finds his sadness by recognizing the limited extremities of his mind and of himself. In that, the most primitive and the most technologically advanced man, humans and animals such as chickens in treadmill or people getting off the subway lose all distinctions. Baraka is gloriously a sad movie.

harmonic connection  - David Hykes from yes - 25-Nov-2006
Dear All,

Greetings from Giving Thanks, the day after... I contributed original music to "Baraka" and salute its pioneering vision. For more about my music, film music, 11 recordings, and teachings of the Harmonic Presence work, please visit www.harmonicpresence.org.

Peace and Love,
David Hykes, Harmonic Presence Foundation

--
Harmonic Presence Foundation
www.harmonicpresence.org
325 8th St. Brooklyn, NY 11215-3313 USA
Tel. +1 203 987 5416 (global)
Skype: davidharmonic
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/davidhykes
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j1wmleD1eU

Harmonic Presence Foundation/France
www.presenceharmonique.org
Pommereau, Autainville, France 41240
Tél. +33 8 72 56 74 69 (global)

Harmonic Presence Concerts/Seminars:
New York City: concert Nov. 16, teaching, Nov 19-20: www.breathingproject.org
France: December 9-10, 16-17, or 30-31
Esalen, Big Sur, California: June 23-25, 2007

students  - zeynep&didem from Turkey - 23-Nov-2006
I think it's wondeful documentary for world's people. We thanks to Miss. Sevhan, because she traced our class. We influenced this documentary and we learn about other cultures, religions, ceremonies....We discovered other people's life. This documentary teach different life in the world and we thanks for film director. We never forget this masterpiece. For example, the homebred to implement religious ceremony very extraordinary. All of it to show an interesting magnificent with concinnity. Other impressıve image to, the Hindu people to seeing pyre. This one scene, really direful. The producers to taking in hand crooked city life. To this give a example images. Crowded, dirty and ruthless. Everyone's not to be able to forget very valuable one masterpiece. Thank you!!!!

DVD  - Roger from UK - 22-Nov-2006
An all regions version of the DVD is available

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Baraka-Ron-Fricke/dp/B00005NOMQ/sr=8-1/qid=1164200961/ref=pd_ka_1/203-5732989-7407121?ie=UTF8&s=dvd

- Roger

availability of the film Baraka in Holland  - Damir from Holland - 09-Oct-2006
Dear all,
I have seen the film once on TV, it was shown in the Netherlands. Amazing film, very spiritual!
This is a film which is really worth having at home like a christian would have bible or a moslim koran at home.
I was desperately trying to buy the DVD, but it seems impossible.
You cannot buy it anywhere in the Netherlands. Why is it so difficult? Is the Netherlands such uninteresting market?!?
I tryied to order via internet, but only Region 1 version is available which is not going to work on the Dutch DVD players.
Anyone knows why the availability is so limited? Please, if anyone knows where to buy it in the Netherlands - let me know!
Thank you in advance,
All the best,
Damir

Inspiration  - Culus from Argentina/Brazil - 25-Sep-2006
This movie inspired my and my girlfriend to travel arround the world for one year !!!

Wanna see all those images again (but this time is not going to be on the screen).

Love it.

Caramba Baraka!  - Amanda du Plessis from Santa Cruz, Bolivia - 07-Sep-2006
I honestly thought it was a new movie!!! And after having seen it, shared it and wondering about it, I have decided that it is the kind of movie that stays new. Great for sharing with high school students!

Outrageous  - MARINA from Romania - 03-Sep-2006
Absolutly amazing!!! It's an extraordinary movie the best movie I have ever seen.Even though I'm 17 years old I'm sure that this movie will remain in my memory forever.It gives you wings to fly and to travel to every part of the world,in every place that you see in Baraka,,,and it's truly a blessing for all the people who love not just travelling,but our entire planet too.And i'm sure that anybody who loves nature and is fed up of every day life,can apreciate it.Good bless the world and give us people like this able to appreciate and show our world to people who doesn't care about it!

Great  - BP from PHL - 31-Aug-2006
I really enjoy watching and listening to Baraka.

Since it was shot on 70mm, it would be a prime candidate for one of the emerging HD formats; either Blu-ray or HD-DVD.

Baraka in HD would be like ... I cannot imagine anything that it would be like. I would definately buy a HD player just to watch Baraka in HD.

Agradecimiento   - Juan Josè Espinosa Rivera from Guadalajara Jalisco México - 22-Aug-2006
Me ha hecho sentir tanta cosas , entre viajes ya vivividos ,otros no hechos, lugares que son familiares para mi, y envueltos en un misticismo y en un despertar de las cosas que hacemos y o que no hacemos, gracias por ser un especjo de lo que soy y de lo que no soy , y de lo que podre ser . MIL GRACIAS.

SPEECHLESS BEAUTY  - Enrique Sanchez from Miami, FL - 29-Jul-2006
This is our planet, our world, our people, our family...grander than you had ever imagined it. The wonder is that this is but a minute fraction of where we are, and who we are.

The film offers no answers but many questions. It is our job to answer them. If they can be answered.

Thank you for making this movie.

Congratulations  - Alexandre Teixeira Gomes from Porto, Portugal - 17-Jul-2006
Thank you for showing the world's most amazing places!! It is a true inspiration, and i dream to visit all the places shown in this documentary!!!

Thank you  - Teresita from Rota - 13-Jul-2006
I must admit I've never heard of BARAKA until now. Most awesome, spectacular, amazingly beautiful, fantastic and a Brilliant production. What an inspiration to the mind and heart.
We are so grateful and Thankful to you and your crews for educating us on BARAKA.. You take my breath away......

Excellent  - Greg Bobo from Auburn, CA - 06-Jul-2006
About 10 years ago I was able to convince my Social Studies Department to show Baraka the first week of 10th grade World Studies and since it has become a staple for our department. This is the best introduction of the world to high schoolers one can find. If you happen to have a lightware/speakers/large screen the students really become engaged into this. For us, living in the foothills of Northern California, we are "sheltered" from the rest of California, U.S. and the world, so Baraka helps bring the world closer!

Comment about the movie  - Alessandro Serafini from Italy - 31-May-2006
The most wonderful film work that i ever seen in my life without any doubt.

Baraka  - ramesh from malaysia - 30-May-2006
Simply spectacular, its a "FEEL" realm and the music was "moving". thank you for something very special, cant be expressed but certainly FELT.

More, pls..  - Mostick from Ukraine - 24-May-2006
Great! IMHO The Earth & peoples of Earth can show many more amazing views. Author, if it possible, continue, please..

Movies  - LASA from MÉXICO - 23-May-2006
Great site.
BARAKA- as many of the music used in the film, It transcends the multicultural walls such language or skin colour the importance to film a movie in a particular format resides in that this can evoke a feeling of impotency and stateliness to look at our world.
This film is of a few who has won a place in a new kind of documental, only images in motion...

baraka  - l8 from russia - 21-May-2006
i don`t have enough words to express my opinion about such great movie. my favourite movie. thanks *ALOT* for such masterpiece.

Unbelievable  - megan spahr from newbury park, ca, USA - 11-May-2006
Thank you for making an inspirational movie like Baraka. You make me want to be there.........

Greetings from Serbia  - Dusan B. Hadnadjev from Serbia&Montenegro - 27-Apr-2006
My compliments, Ron & Mark! Impressive and artistic work!

All the best, Dushan

d.

canada  - colleen from canada - 21-Apr-2006
not one shot of canada is listed regardin