Samsara (2011)

Expecting no dialogue whatsoever and an apparent reliance on visuals obviously created sceptical feelings for me. I'm not particularly into what I can essentially describe as 'nature' documentaries, yet, I wanted to see this film... predominantly out of curiosity as providing absolutely zero dialogue throughout seems like a truly risky move. After somehow sitting through the approximate 102 minutes of beautiful cinematography and some captivating segments, and allowing a few days for this film to sink in... I'm still finding it hard to form a proper opinion. However, it is safe to say that I do seriously appreciate 'Samsara' - what it manages to achieve within such a small budget and an elaborate filming process spanning over almost five years is truly astonishing. There is no doubt about it; the cinematography in this film is practically flawless. Every single shot is evidently crafted with masterful precision, accompanied by a beautifully fitting soundtrack throughout, and edited to the highest standard making the whole film flow nicely with its diverse range of settings and locations. In addition to this, it was truly fascinating to see more of the world - Fricke seems to construct these aesthetically pleasing shots with subtle meaning and undertones, and once again, it's all accomplished in a smooth manner despite the constant change of locations and thus colour palettes. The entire film just flows so nicely, exhibiting parts of the world and allowing its spectator to be educated in the most subtle yet profound way imaginable. The most captivating segment to me personally was the sequence involving Tibetan Monks, as I don't take a particular interest in learning about other cultures... this segment essentially opened my eyes to how delightfully diverse the planet earth actually is. The film does also of course explore the negative aspects to our world, and the pure subtlety in which everything is presented makes it all the more intriguing. Sadly, I must admit that getting through 'Samsara' within one sitting and no breaks is somewhat difficult, and at times makes the film transition into a 'snorefest' of sorts. The best way I can describe my viewing of this film is to say I have 'experienced' it, I appreciate everything it showcases and how it is constructed. However... it is not exactly a film I would call "enjoyable", "entertaining" or even "exciting". I'd recommend to view it in segments with subtle breaks, in order to completely absorb every gorgeous image and its tone. 'Samsara' is undoubtedly an achievement in film-making, and I applaud everyone involved in the process of creating this enchanting piece of art.