“Baraka” is a documentary that successfully illustrates a sense of self and world “rediscovery and reconnecting,” as director Ron Frike incorporated the key concepts in society and culture in order to project his message of cultural understanding, revealing ethnic unity and the overlooked interactions beyond nation borders. The world is viewed in an oblique perspective, capturing moments that expose the interactions of people, culture and environment.
Ron Frike shows the simplicity of the worlds natural function entwined with the complications and responsibilities of the individual “Persons,” that inhabit its land. Frike films a traditional Balinese tribal chant, the group chants noises together aloud which causes the audience to gain deeper thought into the image portrayed. The use of diegetic sound from the individuals allow the development of an ensemble of voices to occur, reflecting the individual’s passions and expected responsibility of them to express their spiritual beliefs and faith within the group. The director’s use of chant to create music enables the audiences to notice the relationships the individuals have with the environment and the importance of their culture as value to them in mind, body and spirit. “Persons,” of the world assist interaction of all essential concepts regarding society and culture.
Baraka creates a strong emphasis on the cultural concept of the world that exists today. Panning footage is captured to show the juxtaposition of cultures present in the world in contrast to each other. It highlights the uniqueness and compares the activities that are engaged in, including traditional rituals that differentiate between cultures and religions yet still remain to have similar characteristics. Culture impacts the way in which society functions, certain ethnic groups praise and value the sacred land. The cultural world continues to revolve combining concepts of environment and persons, continuing to grow and promote awareness of past ancestors and gods. The footage clearly demonstrates the similarity of practices and customs, in the respect that they consider the land their baby of which they care, respect and look after. Cultures including the Aboriginal and American Indian relate as both were affected by colonization of Europeans. Culture is aided by the presence of surrounding environments and people of the world and their perceptions and beliefs of being.
The environment helps to shape understanding of the worlds inhabitants known as “Persons,” and the cultures of which they belong to. Frike recognizes the perceptions of the world in a high angle extreme shot, emphasizing the natural beauty of the environments around the world linked as
