Film epitomizes 'life in turmoil'

The Indiana Memorial Union Board's Live from Bloomington Committee will present the film "Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance," with a score performed live by composer Philip Glass and the Philip Glass Ensemble, 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Indiana University Auditorium. \n"Koyaanisqatsi," a 1983 film directed by Godfrey Reggio, shows contrasting scenes from America's natural and urban landscapes. It was awarded the Audience Award for Best First Feature Film at Filmex, and Glass's score was voted Best Original Film Score by the Los Angeles Film Critics. "'Koyaanisqatsi' is not so much about something, nor does it have a specific meaning or value," Reggio said in a press release. "'Koyaanisqatsi' is, after all, an animated object, an object in moving time, the meaning of which is up to the viewer. Art has no intrinsic meaning. This is its power, its mystery and hence its attraction. Art is free."\n'Koyaanisqatsi' can be understood without translation, conveying its message entirely through the universal language of image and sound. KO-YAA-NIS-KATSI, taken from the Hopi language, means "crazy life," "life in turmoil" or "life disintegrating." \n"Since its premiere in 1983, 'Koyaanisqatsi' has assumed the stature of a modern film classic," Glass said in a press release. "Godfrey and I worked over a period of three years assembling the image and music of 'Koyaanisqatsi.' This is a collaboration of film and music that is unprecedented in its intensity," Through his work in film, Glass has helped reinvent the relationship between music and the moving image. \n"Rather than simply providing music as accompaniment to an otherwise finished film, Glass considers music an essential narrative force and has worked as a true collaborator with directors…conceptualizing the score for the initial stages of the film and sharing in the editing process," according to a press release.\nGlass, a significant figure in the development of minimalism in music, studied composition first at The Juilliard School in New York City and then with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. His music has been performed for more than 33 years.\nFamous for his minimalist, postmodern music, Glass has composed the scores for "Kundun," "The Truman Show," and a number of other films. He will resurrect the silent era style of film with a modern tint tonight. \nTickets are on sale today at all Ticketmaster outlets, including the IU Auditorium box office and the IMU Activities Desk. Tickets are $26-$36 ($21-$31 for IUB students).