NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. This is a free film screening.

Koyaanisqatsi is a 1982 American experimental non-narrative film directed and produced by Godfrey Reggio with music composed by Philip Glass and cinematography by Ron Fricke.

The film consists primarily of slow motion and time-lapse footage (some of it in reverse) of cities and many natural landscapes across the United States. The visual tone poem contains neither dialogue nor a vocalized narration: its tone is set by the juxtaposition of images and music. Reggio explained the lack of dialogue by stating "it's not for lack of love of the language that these films have no words. It's because, from my point of view, our language is in a state of vast humiliation. It no longer describes the world in which we live." In the Hopi language, the word koyaanisqatsi means "life out of balance".

Important Information:

Film Start Time: Doors open at 6:00pm, and the film will begin promptly at 7:00pm. As our films are general admission seating, please be sure to arrive early to secure your seat. Beer, wine, and concessions will be available.

Free Parking:

We’re pleased to offer complimentary parking for all attendees. Simply bring your parking ticket from the library parking lot (across from the Main Library on Rock Street) or the parking deck (next to the Main Library on Rock Street) inside the theater, and our friendly box office staff will validate it for you.

We look forward to welcoming you to an evening of timeless storytelling at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater!