opening shots...?

So, are the breathtaking opening shots (of the desert-y landscape, followed by sidewalks/roads/buildings and then the buildings being graffitti-covered and so on) models, or are they sets? They look a bit too good to just be models but I figured it'd be more practical to build than a set just for a 30-second shot.

Either way, amazing opening to an amazing film.



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Shuji Terayama forever.