Mark Magidson

A paralysingly beautiful documentary with a global vision—an odyssey through landscape and time—that attempts to capture the essence of life.

Filmed over nearly five years in twenty-five countries on five continents, and shot on seventy-millimetre film, Samsara transports us to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders.

Carefully picked scenes of nature and civilization are viewed at high speed using time-lapse cinematography in an effort to demonstrate the history of various regions.

After an excerpt from 'Baraka (1992)' , featuring the music of Dead Can Dance, we see them in concert in Santa Monica CA, alternated with interview sequences with the lead members (Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry) where they discuss their influences (Asian/Mid-Eastern music and Irish ballads), their instrumentation (Chinese dulcimer, various percussion, synthesizers), and their different approaches