Baraka film response

          
    Baraka is an incredible movie in many cinematic aspects while portraying worldwide themes and ideologies. The enveloping theme of Baraka is the unity of the people on Earth as one, which gives it it’s name, “Baraka” of “Breath”. It is referring to the idea that everyone on Earth is part of the same living spirit or organism. All people are alike and share the same “Breath” of life and that they all breath as one and live as one. Some might say that Baraka is in a way, looking down on what the world has become, divided and narrow-minded. But I believe that it is actually doing the opposite. Rather than ridiculing the human world for dividing, Baraka is trying to make this known, to show the people that this division is unnecessary and that we are all equal.

                Baraka was an unusual film, as it had no voices being used. I feel this choice to exclude voices helped greatly to make the point of equality in the world clear. By eliminating voices, the director eliminates opinions. Without added opinions, the audience is able to look at the different peoples, without discrimination of any kind changing their understanding of the film’s message.

                In the film many views of life in foreign lands today, is incorporated directly with nature. In India, people can be seen bathing in the Ganges River. Looking at the water and the people in it, it is clear that it is not actually cleaning these people. But, with careful attention, people can be seen praying to the river, bathing in the river; children are seen playing in the river. The children represent the connection of these people to the river, who likely all spent their entire lives there. The people bathing express the peoples’ trust in the river to protect and support them. Finally the people praying show how the river spiritually connects to these people, expressing it’s true importance to this society of modern day people.

                In Japan a shot of a monk of a monk is taken as he slowly makes his way down the street through a crowd of people. This monk, who walks around preaching and praying expresses the integration of culture and religion into the urban atmosphere of the modern day. By directly placing himself in the middle of such an industrialized and modern society, and expressing what appears to be an older method of practice. This monk shows how religion lives and incorporates itself into a society.

                In the film the major aspects that caught my attention to be unique and intriguing, were the transitions. One scene in particular which was very dramatic and different was a transition between a monk lighting candles for a prayer, and the oil fire in Kuwait. At first a peaceful monk is seen praying and lighting candles, and the motif of fire transfers over suddenly to a blazing inferno which dramatically changes the mood and energy of the scene. This is interesting and unique because it couldn’t work in almost any other film.

                I feel that Baraka is an extremely special film. The messages and ideas it portrays couldn’t possibly be recreated in another movie. The blending of culture and life from around the world, gives one a totally different perspective on people and their relations to one-another. It makes me want to travel around the world possibly experience some of the same things as the people who got to make this film.