AliSince forever, humans have been capturing the essence of existence. Words serve us well. But can the human experience be captured without words? What if I told you that the most powerful expression I’ve seen contains no words at all? I give you the timeless movie — Baraka.
Sometimes, in order to fully appreciate one or two of your senses, you have to momentarily suppress the others.
For instance — briefly closing your eyes, while listening to birds singing, heightens your sound awareness. And, losing the senses of taste and smell during illness brings touch, sight, and hearing into focus.
THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE — WORDS OPTIONAL
Now, imagine a movie, with all the eye-popping vistas and captivating score — yet without a word. There’s sound, of course. This isn’t a silent film. But there’s no discernable dialogue.
Boring? Not in the least! In fact, it’s profound on so many levels.
This film forgoes chitchat, leaving space for other means of auditory and visual communication.
A WORLD BEYOND WORDS
Baraka is a movie unlike any other. Director Ron Fricke describes it as “a journey of rediscovery and reconnecting.”
But it’s even more than this!
The wonder of nature is woven throughout, often explored via time lapse photography. You begin to lose yourself in the epic-ness.
The scope is vast and deep — a composition of dramatic images juxtaposed with surprising effectiveness. Nature, religious expression, poverty, industrialization and war — all aspects of the human experience come to light.
Though the film passes on dialogue, it’s far from soundless. The score, composed by Michael Stearns (with other contributing artists) is moving and varied, masterfully complementing the diverse cultures and locales.
AN UNHURRIED PACE
Baraka‘s pacing is thoughtful and contemplative. This is precisely how Fricke captures the beauty, grief, wonder and soulfulness of life so effectively. He’s not bombarding you with images. It’s all done in a rhythm that suits the subject.
Cities streets packed with crowds are juxtaposed against peaceful springs filled with bathing monkeys.
So much of our lives are lived at high speed these days. Baraka beckons you to slow down — to appreciate things as they unfold — moment by moment. Truly an expression of mindfulness in motion.
THE BLESSING
Baraka is a Sufi word that means “blessing” or “essence of life”. Ron Fricke’s film embodies this beautifully. I don’t readily suggest movies, but this one speaks for itself. Click the Prime Video photo below to watch, or read the in depth review:
So go ahead — treat your senses to a contemplative exploration of existence! The afterglow is deeply grounding.
You’ll likely find yourself (and those who shared this experience with you) in a thoughtful place, drawn to discuss the deeper things of life, the human experience, and God.
This is the mystery of humanity, exhaled onto celluloid film.
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I’d love to hear from you! Have you seen Baraka? Did it draw you into a place of mindful reflection? I welcome your questions and comments below. — Ali 🙂
This is a beautiful exploration of communication beyond language, and it resonates strongly from a communication-skills perspective. What you highlight so effectively is that meaning isn’t confined to words — pace, imagery, sound, and silence all communicate at a level that language sometimes can’t reach. Baraka becomes a compelling case study in nonverbal communication, where attention, restraint, and intention carry the message.
This piece thoughtfully connects art, mindfulness, and the human experience, showing that some of the most meaningful conversations happen without spoken language at all. It’s a timely reflection on how silence, when used with purpose, can be just as expressive as words.
Yes! I love how you mention that “silence, when used with purpose, can be just as expressive as words”. Thank you for your positive response to my article! Let’s spread the word so more people will watch this stunning movie. 🙂