About 20 years ago I saw a film on PBS involving rediculously sped-up film of cars on the freeway and trains on the tracks.
Ending with a missile launch exploding and the debris falling back to earth.
The title was something like KOINIOSTATSI
An Indian word meaning “out of step with harmony”
I don’t know, but it sounds incredibly like the footage Benny Hill used to use as a euphemism for coitus!
that’s it. 
Fantastic opening shot.
Excellent soundtrack.
Highly recommended.
It’s part of a trilogy, with *Powaqqatsi *and Naqoyqatsi.
Also worth checking out: Baraka, by the cinematographer for Koyaanisqatsi.
Listening to the deep koaning, I can’t help but imagining them singing:
“Lothar of the Hill People”
I respectfully disagree. ‘Excellent’ it is not.
It is an amazing, absolutely extraordinary soundtrack. The movie is not even incomplete without it.
(And, it turned me on to the equally amazing Philip Glass) (his website)
I’ve been fortunate enough to see Glass perform several of his film scores as live accompaniment to the movie, and this concert/screening was unquestionably the highlight. Unforgettable.
I first saw this film at the Manor Art Cinema in Wilton Manors, FL during it’s original theatrical release. I was blown away. I’ve bought this film in both VHS and DVD, and now I’m eagerly awaiting the Blu-ray release. I’ve also bought the soundtrack on LP, cassette & CD. This was my first exposure to Phillip Glass. He quickly grew to be one of my favorite composers. I can’t say enough good things about this movie or it’s soundtrack.
Threadjack
I unfortunately acquired one of his early CDs called Glassworks.
Unadulterated shite. Gave and still gives me a headache. I’d take waterboarding over that CD any day of the week.
It came out in 2003, so not an early work in the Glass oeuvre, the commercially available part thereof which began circa 1988.
And, not shite.
De gustibus non est disputandum
ETA: “threadjack” or “threadshit”? (or should I say, “threadshite”?)
My error - it came out in 1990.
And still, it is not shite.
… Slight zombie here, but I just had to add that IMHO, Glass’ absolutely finest work is the first act of Satyagraha. Just an incredible, incredible piece of music.
Glassworks actually came out in 1982, I used to have it on tape. I remember reading that it was one of the first digital recordings and one of the earliest CDs, and the idea was that it was going to introduce a new generation to Philip Glass’ works, and I didn’t just copy that from Wikipedia.
I didn’t. I knew it already. It’s a bit like Koyaanisqatsi-lite and it has “Facades” on it, which is the famous one that Glass gets lots of royalties for. You know, it goes nee-nah-nee-nah-nee-nah (breathe in) nee-nah-nee-nah. Dooo. Nee-nah etc.
Yes, that one. There are two releases of the Koyaanisqatsi soundtrack - the first one was on a budget label or something, and the second one had a lot more music and came in a cardboard box. It also works as an introduction to Philip Glass because it’s a lot more concise than Einstein on the Beach, I can tell you. Imagine being strapped in a chair and made to watch Koyaanisqatsi while on drugs, like in A Clockwork Orange, you’d be changed.