German Film: Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (Aguirre, the Wrath of God)

Movie screening || In German with English subtitles. || All interested are welcome!
 

Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (Aguirre, the Wrath of God) || 1972 || Directed by Werner Herzog
 

With Klaus Kinski, Peter Berling, Daniel Ades, Cecilia Rivera, Ruy Guerra, Alejandro Repulles, Alejandro Chavez, Helena Rojo, Del Negro, Edward Roland, Armando Polanha, Daniel Farfan, Julio Martinez

Music by Popol Vuh

Time to get back to a classic. By now, this movie has attained cult status across the world of cinema. Two great creative forces clash: Klaus Kinski and Werner Herzog for the first time collaborating as leading actor and author/director. This impossible relationship between two maniacal geniuses produces some of the great images in the history of film (see the 1999 documentary Mein liebster Feind (My Best Fiend). The relationship lasted 16 years for an output of some of cinema's boldest films including Stroszek, Fitzcarraldo, and a remake of Nosferatu.

Major topics include symbols of power; the power of symbols; greed; fame; the uselessness of human categories and illusionary rituals.   

Not much dialog – images abound (some unforgettable) all through "true" camera work. No tricks, special effects, or CGI. The camera is right on top of everything. It is "part of the action" resulting in a documentary effect. Popol Vuh's "hypnotic music" for Aguirre was met with considerable acclaim. Roger Ebert wrote, "The music sets the tone. It is haunting, ecclesiastical, and human and yet something else..."

Following the sober script, a monk narrates how, after the destruction of the Inca Empire, a Spanish expedition leaves the mountains of Peru and goes down the Amazon river in search of gold and wealth. Don Lope de Aguirre becomes their leader as we go on a trip into another great human failure and a journey into madness—a relevant allegory for failed leadership. (FYI: This film was realized on a budget of $375,000.)