The whole film revolved around comparing and contrasting different images and shots with the soundtrack setting the mood in the background. In my eyes, the film started out with a negative look towards humanity and its effects on the planet. The opening shot of the rocket launch had a very fire and brimstone feel which is typically a doomsday sign. The soundtrack cast a very ominous overtone with the chanting during the rocket launch. The film ended with the conclusion of the rocket launch – its subsequent explosion and failure. This very clear beginning and end symbolized the path that humanity is on, but the middle of the film had a more hopeful tone.

Once the film switched to the shots of the different landscapes, the music changed to a much more thoughtful and serene tone. This peaceful image was very different from the initial scene of the rocket launch. Underlying the soundtrack was the sound of wind which added the effect of making viewers feel like they were standing among the landscape, feeling the wind brush past their faces. The music matched the tempo of the clouds and moving and the rivers raging which looked very similar in appearance. It conveyed the purity of nature and how separate it is from the hustle and bustle of human life. These serene shots set up a sharp juxtaposition with the hectic life of the city.

The next time the film switched back to human life, the shot of the truck became obscured by smoke. After all of the images of the beautiful landscape, the first human made object becomes consumed by a thick, dark smokescreen that came from the truck. This could symbolize how humans may end up being their own demise. Though this film was made roughly 20 years ago, the message this sends is only being supported. Back then, it was the threat of nuclear holocaust; now it is the threat of climate change and pollution. Although the reasons for humankind’s destruction may have changed, it is still coming about at the hands of humans. This message was only supported as the fim switched from a factory handling molten metal (more flames and black smoke) and, ultimately, the nuclear bomb explosion (epitome of fire and brimstone).

With humankind being portrayed by these dark scenes, the overall tone towards humans began to shift afterwards. The effects of humans do not just lead to doom and gloom. Most of these horrible events resulted from good intentions being misused. The film quickly flashed clips from a space launch to clips of various scenes of warfare showing the good innovation can do as well as the bad. These two sides were also displayed through the contrasting of rows and rows of tanks and rows and rows of cars. This began the switch from all the negative impacts humans can have to the thriving life that humans have built for themselves.

The majority of the shots the film displayed after this centered around cities and the teeming life they are filled with. This switch was introduced with a profound silence as the camera panned over a cityscape. After the neverending music that had accompanied the video so far, this silence stood out even more so. The audience then gets slowly introduced into the life of the city as the scenes pan downwards and eventually end up on the streets. The city has a much more positive vibe now and the shots have a much different feel. They focus on the vividness of life.

Almost all of the shots that have humans in them are packed to the brim with humans. The sheer amount of life being displayed sends a message in itself. Despite the chaos that may seem to arise from the cities, there is a certain organization. This organized chaos of human life is then compared to the organized chaos of the industries humans take part in. The moving assembly lines paired with the moving rows of humans on escalators solidified this message of organized chaos.

Throughout all this hustle and bustle, the vigor of life still shone through and reminds us that each individual has his or her own story. The film included multiple shots focusing in on certain people to the point that it bordered on an overly awkward amount of time. This was to reinforce this message that each despite the craziness that humanity has brought onto the world, each individual still has power, is important, and can make a difference.