"Samsara" was shot on the highest film quality possible (70mm), and outputted to digital format. I don't know why I put off seeing it for so long, unfortunately it was one of those films in a long list you'll just eventually get around to seeing. Within Buddhism, "Samsara" is explained as the repetitious, but continuing cycle of birth and death. The process of cycling through one rebirth after another, is figuring out whether it was a psychological experience or a physical one.
And I thoroughly enjoyed it. "Samsara" takes about 10 minutes to really warm up, and when it does it's an utter spectacle of both cinematography, editing and narrative. Master director Ron Fricke's efforts have been thoroughly constructed, and transitions flow seamlessly. It's gorgeous to see sands in the desert move like the ocean, and shadows sweeping mountains from dusk to dawn revealing rich unearthly colours. Monk's craft heavily detailed mosaic's with sand, and cultures from both sides of the world are uniquely different and humorously not so different after all.
There's not much to say, other than the movie is a wonderful experience. In the age of the Internet and cheaper travel, Mr. Fricke's previous outing "Baraka" has aged terribly in my mind. "Samsara" feels like a conclusion, but more "Quasi-remake" that just flows better in comparison.
Final Verdict: Highly worth your time. It has its darker moments, but to have not included them would be a disservice to the picture. 8/10.
And I thoroughly enjoyed it. "Samsara" takes about 10 minutes to really warm up, and when it does it's an utter spectacle of both cinematography, editing and narrative. Master director Ron Fricke's efforts have been thoroughly constructed, and transitions flow seamlessly. It's gorgeous to see sands in the desert move like the ocean, and shadows sweeping mountains from dusk to dawn revealing rich unearthly colours. Monk's craft heavily detailed mosaic's with sand, and cultures from both sides of the world are uniquely different and humorously not so different after all.
There's not much to say, other than the movie is a wonderful experience. In the age of the Internet and cheaper travel, Mr. Fricke's previous outing "Baraka" has aged terribly in my mind. "Samsara" feels like a conclusion, but more "Quasi-remake" that just flows better in comparison.
Final Verdict: Highly worth your time. It has its darker moments, but to have not included them would be a disservice to the picture. 8/10.