grantss Visually stunning but not as powerful or coherent as Samsara.A documentary on...everything. No narration, no annotations or sub- titles, just images. We see majestic mountains, wildlife, religious and cultural ceremonies and customs, geological phenomena, landscapes, human habitation and how this impacts on nature, industry, urban living, poverty, military weapons and the effects of war, monuments to atrocities, art and architecture. The images are taken from all over the planet. While they might seem random at first, there are links between the different scenes...Quite amazing, visually: well selected and filmed images. It's like a National Geographic video without narration. Interesting themes too: nature vs mankind, war and its effects, the extent of human cruelty, the extent of human creativity, the superficiality and dullness of our daily lives. However, I found the individual scenes a bit ponderous at times, as if the director lingered on one subject too long to take up time. Also, the themes weren't always that clear, profound or well thought out.The problem might be that I watched Samsara (also directed by Ron Fricke and released a year after Baraka) before Baraka, thus some of the novelty had worn off. Samsara seemed more coherent in its message and had better pacing. Maybe if I had watched them in reverse order, my feelings on the two would be reversed.Overall, well worth watching. A very original documentary.

Jack Hawkins (Hawkensian) A bold statement certainly, however Baraka has an immense beauty that is surely universal in appeal. It is a documentary that's without narrative or narration, it captures a veritable plethora of imagery that reminds us that Earth is indeed a baraka, which is Arabic and Hebrew for 'blessing'.Any attempt to derive meaning or identify connection becomes merely incidental as you're presented with the hypnotic scenery that Ron Fricke and his team have captured; it must have been difficult for them to cut their glorious footage down to 97 minutes. The film traverses verdant jungles, epic mountain ranges, sweeping temple complexes, arid deserts, imposing cityscapes and haunting landmarks of evil such as Auschwitz and the Cambodian S-21 prison. Its human subjects are of all colours and creeds, with much of the film focusing on those who are less fortunate and sometimes utterly destitute. It is a sensational and occasionally disturbing cross-section of the planet's landscapes, cultures and history.The stunning wide shots and time lapses are scored with heady ambient music by Michael Stearns. His music is a cacophony of tribal chants, chimes and drums that's vital in creating Baraka's truly sensory immersion. My favourite piece is Baraka Theme, its broad, sonorous notes create a vast scope that perfectly accompanies the boundless panoramas.There are so many moments I could talk about, I could throw effusive adjectives at almost every frame, however I feel mere words can't do it justice. Baraka is a purely cinematic experience that's somewhat futile to describe.However, one memorable sequence I will mention is the factory processing of chicks that's interspersed with the frenetic pace of the Tokyo railway commuters; it is fascinating and ultimately quite unpleasant as the birds' destiny in battery cages is revealed after having their beaks burnt. The camera offers insights into an array of factories, showcasing their subjects' perfectly rehearsed skills in computer hardware assembly, textiles and poultry.It is a film that demands to be shown on good equipment, a film that serves as a benchmark for one's TV or projector. Apparently, it was the first film to receive an 8K transfer, what an awesome experience that must be, most likely better than real life!When Baraka sadly finishes, you eventually move your eyes away from the screen for the first time in 97 minutes and realise that you've been dead still the whole time as you check your watch, surprised to see that many hours haven't passed. It is a triumph that the moving image alone can achieve such engrossment.86%www.hawkensian.com

George Roots (GeorgeRoots) I'm not here to completely slander "Baraka". That would be a disservice to Ron Fricke's jaw dropping camera skills and directorial efforts. It's sad in a way, because I had just viewed his most recent outing "Samsara" (2012)."Samsara" featured better pacing, much better music pieces, smoother transitions between cultures and even though it was the final in a trilogy it honesty felt like a "quasi-remake". On multiple viewings I have really tried, but I feel "Samsara" totally rectified all of Baraka's short comings and I understand how unfair it is compare a directors efforts, especially in-between a 9 year gap. Unfortunately, that's just the way I see it.Saying all that, I still really want to view "Chronos" (1985) someday. "Baraka" has some gorgeous imagery throughout it's 1 hour 30 minute running time, but for 40 minutes of this picture I found myself really underwhelmed. As much as I love the premises of Mr. Fricke's work, and adore the camera shots being employed. I can only recommend "Baraka", if you have the patience to wait for the more provocative stuff in the 3rd act of the picture.Final Verdict: My appreciation of the picture has gone up as time goes by, but "Baraka" is showing it's age. I can appreciate this was a way to see the world without mass exposure via holiday trips or the Internet. But I really think "Baraka" will age much sooner than later. 7/10.

billcr12 Baraka means blessing in many languages, and this documentary uses the techniques used for Koyaanisqatsi, and it is not a surprise, given that Ron Fricke was the main cinematographer of that film, and directed this one in a similar manner, using time lapse cameras frequently. There is no narration, only music, mostly of the soothing Zamfir pan flute variety, and Fricke traveled around the world to capture worshipers at the Wailing Wall, natives of Africa praying to the sky, and other forms of religion that are practiced across the planet. The contrast of the major cities with scenes of men and women running like hungry little ants, with the serene footage of the beauty of nature works well. We also see the great destruction that we have caused with the rape of the earths natural resources. Maybe the leaders of every nation should be forced to watch Baraka, for a real education of what happens due to their careless policies.