Chiiz Volume 11 : Macro Photography

Movie Review: Samsara (2012)
Duration: 99 minutes
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
Released: 2012
Cinematography and Directed by: Ron
Fricke
Genre: Non- Narrative Documentary
Filmed in Panavision Super 70
Entirely shot on 65mm camera film,
“SAMSARA” is a manifestation of
the wonders of this planet and is a
continuation to the 1992 released wonder:
“BARAKA”. While “Baraka” means “the
blessing of God”, the etymology of the word
“Samsara” lies in Sanskrit, meaning “the
wheel of life” which deals with the cycle of
birth, death and rebirth a belief in religions
like Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
Filmed by Fricke and Magidson, “Baraka”
(1992) invested in mesmerizing snapshots
from across the world. Following the
same idea, “Samsara” is another of their
masterpiece that deals with the concepts
of life and draws a sharp contrast between
man and nature, technology and ancient
civilization, life in the metropolis and
that in the jungles. Rated 8.5 by IMDB,
“Samsara” is a visual masterpiece that
beautifully presents the wonders of life
and death. Devastation is contrasted with
growth and development, nature to nurture
and civilization to the wilderness.
The movie opens with the delicate beauty
of Balinese dancers. Other parts of the
movie feature beautiful locations covering
five continents and their diverse cultures
and traditions. From Thiksey Monastery
in India to the Hajj ritual in Saudi Arabia,
the movie does not differentiate between
religions and, in fact, invests in diverse
religious backgrounds. On one hand, we
have laborers working hard in the sulfur
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mines of Indonesia and on the other hand,
we have factory workers working in unison
using technology, robots imitating and at
the same time, replacing manpower. We
have huge food processing factories where
pigs and hens are being slaughtered. These
factories not only represent processing
of food but death as well. The process of
generating something out of a dead animal
(food) can be compared to the process of
rebirth.
Apart from this, the Thousand Hand
Goddess Dance representing China
and Geisha, representing Japanese
tradition does not fail to catch the eye
of the spectators. The Thousand Hand
Goddess dance represents that each one
of us have a particular role to perform.
Coordination and teamwork is eminent in
the performance of these graceful ladies.
Dancing inmates in the CEBU Detention
Center, Philippines have two different
interpretations. One might be that they
are using dance as a means of resistance.
The other might point to the attempt of
the superiors to control, rather tame or
civilized those prisoners.
Discipline, as a theme, is prominent in
the entire movie. Be it the wild nature
or the human civilization, discipline is
an inevitable part of our lives. The kids
enrolled in the practice session of martial
arts too represent discipline at its peak. Not
just nature and human civilization, but,
religion too teaches us the importance of
the same in our lives. The rhythmic raising
and bending of heads of thousands of
Muslims in unison in front of Allah refer to
the discipline religion has taught us. While
Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam are there
in the form of rituals, Christianity is also
there, flaunting its beauty in the form of the
beautiful Church of The Redeemer situated
in Israel.
The Tibetan monks working on a circular
sand mandala with utmost dedication and
precision too, points to the circle of life
whose end has to meet someday. The piece
of art is destroyed at the end mixing it all
and resulting in the formation of the colors
of a beautiful rainbow. The movie, overall,
has a mesmerizing effect on our way of
seeing life as a circle. A cycle of events
where balance and discipline is necessary.
It is, hence, a movie worth investing our
time into; probably not just a movie, but
“a guided meditation on life and death” as
Mary Ann Brussat puts it.
Meenal Singh
meenal@chiiz.com
Meenal is an undergraduate student of Miranda
House, University of Delhi. She aspires to be a
lecturer in English Literature. Meenal wishes
to fight for the equality of women worldwide
through the power of her words.