A 1980’s cult film about the collision of urban life and technology versus the environment will be screened later this month as part of Councills Sustainable Living Space Project.

Cr Alex Makin said the film ‘Koyaanisqatsi’ – a Hopi Indian word meaning ‘life out of balance’ is a vision of the collision of two different worlds, and will be screened at Council’s Braeside Avenue offices on Tuesday 28 April.

“The film is by first-time director Godfrey Reggio, and has no dialogue and no actors.

“Instead there is music composed by Philip Glass (a composer of world renown for his ‘art music’) and images that range from majestic canyons and mountains to city lights and traffic patterns. The viewers are left to interpret their own meaning from the film,” said Cr Makin.

“The film shows time-lapse and slow motion photography of both natural and man made landscapes (mostly in the US) as a means of expressing the theme ‘life out of balance’,” said Cr Makin.

Cr Makin said the combination of the often fast moving images with the dramatic music creates a very powerful emotion of man’s impact on the planet.

The film was created between 1975 and 1982 and the music was written especially to go with the images. This film raises many questions about the human relationship with nature.

The film night will be held at Maroondah City Offices, Braeside Avenue, Ringwood on Tuesday 28 April. The movie starts at 7pm and is free.

Cr Makin said the Sustainable Living Space Project started in 2007 after discussions between community houses and councils about ways to involve the community in environmental sustainability. A film series was introduced in October 2008.

‘Koyaanisqatsi’ is the fifth film to be shown in the monthly series. The venues for the screenings alternate between Maroondah and Manningham Council areas.

Bookings are essential and can be made by contacting Sustainable Living Space Project volunteer Bernadette Thomas by phoning 0427 150 422 or by email bdettethomas@gmail.com.

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