Green Screen

Rockhurst University’s Fall Film Series is going green, screening films from the beginning of the modern ecological movement. Tonight’s showing at Sedgwick Hall at Rockhurst University (1100 Rockhurst Road, 816-501-4100) is Godfrey Reggio’s 1983 documentary Koyaanisqatsi, the first and perhaps best-known of his Qatsi trilogy. The intensely visual, non-narrative production is famous for its speeded-up sequences, juxtaposing images of the Earth and the humans who use and abuse it. Reggio’s extensive manipulation of film speed seems ahead of its time yet somehow freezes the movie in its era. Some scenes act as cultural vignettes; the dramatic demolition of St. Louis’ infamous Pruitt-Igoe housing project, human faces seeming to age right before your eyes, cut to the frantic pace of Times Square during its more lascivious past. All this visual trickery is set to Philip Glass’ driving score. Admission is $3.

Wed., Sept. 10, 2008