Baraka

Released Sep 24, 1992

1h 36m

Documentary

List

81%

26 Reviews

Tomatometer

96%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Featuring no conventional narrative, this film presents footage of people, places and things from around the world. From chaotic cities to barren wilderness, the movie takes viewers around the globe to witness a variety of spectacles in both natural and technological realms. Detouring into former concentration camps, the production doesn't shy away from the dark side of humanity, and ultimately shows how much of the world is interconnected by both the tragedy and the vibrancy of life.

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Valquria G

Muito bom, gosteiii 🤩🤩

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/25/23

Full Review

Burke M

One of the most visually impressive and artistic pieces of film I have ever experienced.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/20/23

Full Review

Matthew B

Ron Fricke's five-person crew filmed in 24 countries in six different continents over a period of 14 months. The title of the film is a Sufi word meaning blessing, essence or breath. This choice of title indicates Fricke's preference for alternative cultures. As in Chronos, Fricke offers no narrative or voiceover, leaving the viewer to draw their own inferences about what they are watching. He provides no captions telling us the location of the places seen. Some are easily recognisable; others less so. Wikipedia helps identify some: "Locations featured include the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Ryōan temple in Kyoto, Lake Natron in Tanzania, burning oil fields in Kuwait, the smouldering precipice of an active volcano, a busy subway terminal, the aircraft boneyard of Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, tribal celebrations of the Maasai in Kenya, and chanting monks in the Dip Tse Chok Ling monastery". The soundtrack again uses ambient sound effects with a world music theme, including the dreaded panpipes. Images are again slowed down or speeded up, but this time Fricke is less concerned with drawing our attention to technique, and Baraka is a more settled work. Long tracking shots prevail. Images are viewed from bird's eye level, or on the same level. Sometimes the camera points up at the sky so we can watch the stars and passing clouds. Reflecting a change in his concerns, Fricke shows us more images of people. They are not just figures who flit across the screen in a split second. The camera lingers on their unsmiling faces and colourful garments. The single most striking moment in the documentary is the Balinese Ramayana Monkey Chant, a Hindu dance and drama. This is a carefully coordinated ritual in which the participants make monkey noises, and perform gestures with their hands, often while half the players are lying on their knees with their backs prone. The obvious enthusiasm and joy of the men performing the Chant is a joy to watch. Baraka opens with serene and empty landscapes. Gradually animal life appears. An old-faced monkey bathes in steaming water. Soon Fricke passes on to the many structures created by people over thousands of years. He is particularly preoccupied with the creations and activities that reflect our spiritual side – whirling dervishes, the Weeping Wall, ceremonies on the Ganges, Muslims worshipping at the Kaaba. Sometimes the documentary juxtaposes contrasting images that seem similar. Tattoos on a yakuza member followed by an indigenous native covered in tribal paint. It is a reminder that cultures are different, and yet share characteristics. After a while Fricke passes from these uplifting images to scenes of westernised consumerist culture. After seeing what is noblest in mankind, we see the dark side of our impact on the planet. A tree is chopped down. A quarry is blown up. Shanty towns have so many houses in them that they almost appear to be piled on top of one another. Life has become processed, mechanised and commodified. Workers gather in large sweat shop factories to make cigarettes and assemble computers. Chickens are moved along a conveyor belt and dropped down chutes on top of one another before having their beaks burned in an automated process that allows no compassion. Two donkeys drag a heavy cart, their legs buckling under the weight. Other members of society miss out on the benefits. Locals sift through a rubbish tip. Homeless people lie on the streets. Women make a living from prostitution. We stockpile ammunition and burn oil, making the planet a poorer place. Photographs from Auschwitz remind us of our darkest moment in history. After these images, Fricke returns to showing fine buildings and religious ceremonies. This may seem like a disappointing reversion to earlier material, but it is a deliberate choice. By topping and tailing the film with these images, he shows us where his heart lies. Fricke is not indifferent to the failures of the human race, but his film is ultimately uplifting. It is a reminder of the sheer beauty of some of our creations, of the best that we can be. I wrote a longer appreciation of Ron Fricke's films on my blog page if you would like to read more: https://themoviescreenscene.wordpress.com/2021/08/29/three-films-by-ron-fricke-chronos-baraka-and-samsara/

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Gorgeous and touching. A fantastic piece of art.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/11/23

Full Review

dave s

If you get the odd sensation when watching Ron Fricke's Baraka that you've seen it all somewhere before, there's a good reason – you probably have. It is similar in both style and theme to Godfrey Reggio's Qatsi Trilogy, where Fricke served as cinematographer in the first installment of the series, Koyaanisqatsi. Regardless, Baraka lives up to its predecessor's high standards as it documents the world in which we live and the vast array of cultures that inhabit it. The soundtrack is great and the visuals are nothing short of striking, filled with slow tracking shots, effective time lapse photography, and crystal- clear images. It is inspiring, sobering, enlightening and educational. The only thing it isn't is original.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

dave j

Co-written and directed by Ron Fricke showcasing documentary style with music religious practices and faiths practiced throughout the world as well as historical sites from NYC to Tibet to India and so forth.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Rebecca Ellis

Little White Lies

A cinematic sight for sore eyes.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 13, 2012

Full Review

Mike McCahill

Guardian

The only reaction permitted is gawping.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 13, 2012

Full Review

Robbie Collin

Daily Telegraph (UK)

A cinematic gap year of forest temples, baking deserts and teeming cities.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 13, 2012

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

Among the most overwhelmingly gorgeous films ever made.

Rated: 9/10

Dec 26, 2016

Full Review

David Parkinson

Radio Times

While it's easy to look at these often beautiful moving postcards, Fricke presents locations without identifying them, so most viewers will quickly find themselves lost and overwhelmed.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 14, 2012

Full Review

Jennifer Tate

ViewLondon

Breathtaking and serenely beautiful to watch, Baraka is still the visual delight it was twenty years ago, thanks to phenomenal photography, superb editing and a strapping score.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 13, 2012

Full Review

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Synopsis

Featuring no conventional narrative, this film presents footage of people, places and things from around the world. From chaotic cities to barren wilderness, the movie takes viewers around the globe to witness a variety of spectacles in both natural and technological realms. Detouring into former concentration camps, the production doesn't shy away from the dark side of humanity, and ultimately shows how much of the world is interconnected by both the tragedy and the vibrancy of life.

Director: Ron Fricke
Screenwriter: Constantine Nicholas, Genevieve Nicholas
Distributor: Mayfair, Samuel Goldwyn Company
Production Co: Magidson Films
Genre: Documentary
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 24, 1992, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 8, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3M
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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