Review of Samsara (2011) by Michael H — 01 Nov 2012

Less compelling and much more weakly structured than BARAKA or CHRONOS and the good parts - and there are definitely some good segments - are seriously compromised by digital presentation. I had hoped to find some theater screening the movie from a 35mm (or even, if I were really lucky 70mm) print but the 70mm mecca Cinerama in Seattle presented it digitally and no film-based theaters in the Portland/Vancouver area were able to secure a 35mm print. That's a shame because the lower resolution and contrast of digital presentation do not serve this movie well at all. Despite the poor structure, tedious and uninventive soundtrack, and generally less interesting visuals, there were some segments that could have at least occasionally drawn the gasps of awe from the audience that punctuated the earlier films - if they had been projected in the higher quality film format.

If you can locate a theater screening SAMSARA from a film print, add an extra star and go see it.