Across its 86-minute runtime, the film contrasts the vast landscapes of the American Southwest with images of industrialisation, urban expansion, mass production, military power, environmental destruction and media saturation. Through slow motion and time-lapse photography, calm natural scenes give way to increasingly intense views of cities, factories, traffic and crowds. The result is both beautiful and unsettling, presenting modern life as accelerated, repetitive and increasingly detached from the natural world. The film concludes with Hopi prophecies and the image of a failed rocket launch, reinforcing its central theme of “life out of balance”.

It is the first film in the Qatsi trilogy, followed by Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi, which together examine different forms of imbalance in human, social and technological systems.

Architectural allegory: Seen through an architectural lens, Koyaanisqatsi presents the built environment as both a symptom and a driver of imbalance. Construction, infrastructure and transport are not shown as neutral systems, but as forces connected to extraction, acceleration and environmental damage. For an architectural audience, the film offers a powerful meditation on how buildings, cities and technologies can either deepen or challenge the conditions of contemporary life.

This screening begins with a short introduction from the Liverpool Architectural Society, and is part of The Architecture of Monumentality series:

Tue 6 Oct, 18:15: Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

Tue 20 Oct, 18:15: Metropolis (1927)

Tue 3 Nov, 18:15: Louis Kahn's Tiger City (2019)

The Liverpool Architectural Society is the Merseyside branch of the Royal Institute of British Architects. It is one of the oldest architectural societies in the world, founded in 1848 with many past presidents being former staff and students at the Liverpool School of Architecture. 

It welcomes participation from all people with an interest in their built environment and how their cities and towns are shaped by commerce, planners and architects and the local community.

This event is part of FACT’s Community Cinema. If you’re an artist, independent filmmaker, charity, film club, or arts organisation, find out how FACT can support your film screening.

Community Cinema events do not include adverts before the screening. Doors open 30 minutes before the screening and the programme will start promptly at the listed time. Please arrive in plenty of time to help our team ensure everyone has a great experience.

Accessibility

This screening takes place in The Box on the ground floor at FACT and is fully wheelchair accessible. We can accommodate up to 50 wheelchair users for this event. If you are a wheelchair user, please let us know when booking your ticket so we can ensure the space is set up appropriately.

If you have any accessibility requirements, please inform us by emailing events@fact.co.uk.

You can also find information about FACT’s accessibility on our website here: Accessibility or use our Visual Story to prepare for your visit.

Free tickets for CEA or Nimbus Card holders are available from the FACT Welcome Desk or on the door at the time of the event. One free ticket per card holder.