Spirit Lands: An American Desert Odyssey

In this visually stunning production, Emmy Award–winning cinematographer David Fortney captures the strange and beautiful desert landscapes of the southwestern U.S., including those within seven national parks—Arches, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Zion, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, and Joshua Tree—as well as Mono Lake in California. Recorded over four years across the seasons, Fortney employs a variety of cinematography techniques (including stop-motion, time-lapse, and low-level aerial) to create the sensation of hovering over the land, as if on an ethereal journey. Backed by an excellent musical score—featuring works from Native Americans John Huling and R. Carlos Nakai that range from freeform to highly rhythmic—the narration-less Spirit Lands serves up breathtaking scenes, ranging from snow-covered cactus in the Sonoran Desert to wildflowers near the majestic Bell Rock of Sedona. Each segment is prefaced with a Native American quote or proverb, such as: “Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.” Highly recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block)