While this summer certainly isn't lacking in blockbuster-sized visual wonders — Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" and Christopher Nolan's IMAX-scale "The Dark Knight Rises" among them — one the most dazzling movies of them all will be coming from an unexpected place. Marking his first film in nearly two decades, "Baraka" filmmaker Ron Fricke returns with "Samsara" and it's one that demands to be seen on the big screen.
The title is a Sanskrit word that means “the ever turning wheel of life” and serves as the point of departure for the filmmakers as they search for the elusive current of interconnection that runs through our lives. Shot on 70mm, filmed over five years in twenty-five countries on five continents, "Samsara" takes the viewer to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders. Eschewing narration and dialogue, the film demands the viewer bring their own thoughts and perceptions to bear on what they see and the result is a rewarding viewing experience.
Our own Katie Walsh reviewed the film earlier this year at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and had nothing but praise calling it "a rare artifact" that contains "spiritual cinematic power." We're happy to unveil this exclusive poster for the film which teases the vast scope of Fricke's latest work. Oscilloscope Laboratories will open the film in New York City and Seattle on August 24th before rolling it out across the country. Be sure to see it when it comes to your town. Full poster below.