Upon learning of a land rich in gold called El Dorado, Gonzalo Pizarro, brother of Francisco, is induced to venture on an expedition of conquest beyond the Andes, at the beginning of 1560. Forced to stop in his tracks, Pizarro decides to send a patrol to explore along the river, placing Don Pedro de Ursua and his subordinate Don Lope de Aguirre in command. The raging river immediately puts their rafts in trouble. When Don Pedro decides to turn back to the base camp, Aguirre seizes the upper hand and names himself head of the expedition. He even writes a declaration of rebellion against Philip II of Castile. But due to hunger and continued attacks by the Indians, his strength slowly diminishes, until the self-proclaimed “Wrath of God” dies in late February 1561, in a tragic conclusion to his absurd mission of conquest. —Thessaloniki International Film Festival
One of the most influential filmmakers in New German Cinema and one of the most extreme personalities in film, Werner Herzog quickly gained recognition not only for creating some of the most fantastic narratives in the Film history, but for pushing himself and his crew to absurd and unprecedented lengths, again and again, in order to achieve the effects he demanded. Born Werner Stipetic in Munich on September 5, 1942, Herzog came of age in Sachrang, Bavaria, amid extreme poverty and destitution. After Herzog turned seventeen, a German film producer optioned one of his screenplays, then promptly destroyed the contract when he discovered the author’s age. Circa 1962, 20-year-old Herzog enrolled in the University of Munich as a history and literature student, and produced his first motion picture, the twelve minute Herakles, his second short Game in the Sand, and his third, the pacifist tract The Unprecedented Defense of Fortress Deutschkreuz.In 1963, he established his own production… read more
Quite simply, one of the best films will ever see. The music by Popol Vuh will never me. This is cinema at its best.
Werner Herzog: the inventor of un-steady camera. the visual aspect of the film is so brilliantly combined with sound. Herzog really loves to put animals that society doesn't aprove of, like rats,on film (eg. Herzog's Nosferatu)
Harrowing, bleak, and completely Herzog. A film that reveals a lot about human nature and could've been a silent movie with it's sparse use of dialogue and reliance on the visual.
Quiet, tender-beating discomfort. "The long arrows are getting fashionable." Begins in poetic observation and ends in a hypnotic cognitive dissonance. Aguirre is closed off and determined to obtain power. I'm just not sure that I see the other side of his internal predicament. Love many things about this film, but am not sure this man's conquest through nature demonstrates much beyond a sisyphean struggle to which he is internally insusceptible.
Kinski died at the age of 65 on November 23, 1991. Heart attack in California. His ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean.
Matthew Flanagan and Edwin Mak have launched a new journal by the name of Lumen, "as it appeals by metaphor to the notion of discovery, or
This is the second part of a two-part interview. Part one can be found here. *** IGNATIY VISHNEVETSKY: In writings about your films, versimillitude
Ramin Bahrani speaks clearly and assertively. He knows what he wants; even more admirably, he seems to know exactly why he wants it. He can
“…I’m not doing the prequel to Aguirre: the Wrath of God, OK? Let me put it that way!”These were the kindest words Abel Ferrara had to say about
Above: Eilif Bremer Landsend's Last Stop. (for Robert Schuman) Satin ribbons, velvet cushions, plastic roses, hand-painted landscapes, fresh
As big a cult following as Werner Herzog’s Aguirre, the Wrath of God has gathered through the years and as high as its reputation has soared, no words can prepare audiences for their first viewing… read review
I am the wrath of God. Who else is… read review
(Sunday, March 14, 2010 7:30pm)
First of all, Werner Herzog’s “Aguirre, The Wrath Of God,” is not only a masterpiece but also an essential film. Secondly, the expedition of Aguirre and his… read review
De lo mejor de los años 70. Completamente distinta a los canones comunes del cine epico hollywodense, la historia de Aguirre es narrada por Werner Herzog en un estilo minimista y contemplativo que… read review