Powaqqatsi

Powaqqatsi
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGodfrey Reggio
Written by
  • Godfrey Reggio
  • Ken Richards
Produced by
Cinematography
  • Graham Berry
  • Leonidas Zourdoumis
Edited by
Music byPhilip Glass
Production
companies
Distributed byThe Cannon Group
Release date
  • April 29, 1988 (1988-04-29)
Running time
99 minutes
CountryUnited States
Budget$4.2 million
Box office$589,244

Powaqqatsi is a 1988 American non-narrative film directed by Godfrey Reggio and the sequel to Reggio's experimental 1982 film, Koyaanisqatsi. It is the second film in Qatsi trilogy, which was followed by Naqoyqatsi (2002).

The film's title is a Hopi neologism coined by Reggio meaning "parasitic way of life" or "life in transition". While Koyaanisqatsi focused on modern life in industrial countries, Powaqqatsi, which similarly has no dialogue, focuses more on the conflict in Third World countries between traditional ways of life and the new ways of life introduced with industrialization. As with Koyaanisqatsi and the third and final part of the Qatsi trilogy, Naqoyqatsi, the film is strongly related to its soundtrack, written by Philip Glass.