Samsara

Prepare yourself for an unparalleled sensory experience. Samsara reunites filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, whose award winning films Baraka and Chronos brought a new visual and musical artistry to theaters.  Samsara is a Sanskrit word that means “the ever turning wheel of life” and is the point of departure for the filmmakers as they search for the elusive current of interconnection that runs through our lives.

Filmed over a period of five years in twenty-five countries on five continents, and shot on 70mm film, Samsara transports us to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders. By dispensing with dialogue and descriptive text, Samsara subverts our expectations of a traditional documentary. It encourages our own interpretations, inspired by breathtaking images and transcendent music that infuses the ancient with the modern. Samsara explores the wonders of our world, from the mundane to the miraculous, looking into the unfathomable reaches of man’s spirituality and the human experience, and illuminating the links between humanity and the rest of nature.

The Truly Moving Picture Award jury embraced the free-flowing structure of Samsara by taking in its ability to be an emotional roller coaster. Not having a narrator or specific storyline was seen as a non-prejudicial take on the images where they were left to their own thoughts about the deeper themes presented.

Many jurors used praise like “intense,” “amazing” and “beautiful” to describe the film’s meditative journey throughout the most fascinating places on the planet. One person even said Samsara was “visually one of the most stunning things I have ever seen.” Everyone left the theater pondering the film’s messages while being affected by the gorgeous and troubling scenes of the environment and man’s co-existence with the planet.