Werner Herzog - Germany

Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog

1)Herzog makes both fictional narratives and documentaries.
2) His documentaries are less concerned with the objective recording of events and more about the
     subjective aspects of a particular event, process, or condition.
3) His documentaries depend more on the poetic evocations of his visual imagery and voice-over than
     on truth claims (see Grizzly Man, 2005).
4) Among Herzog’s favorite settings are mysterious nature locations that are untamed.
5) His films’ use of sound and music are an important aspect of his style.
6) At the center of most of his narratives is a character who follows
    a single-minded determination to an irreversible end.

The scene from the film clip from class...they are burning the flower pots...They are so gleeful - i loved it. 

Even Dwarfs Started Small (Werner Herzog, 1970):

One notable early narrative Herzog film is Even Dwarfs Started Small (1970).
1) The film details the chaos caused by a group of institutionalized little people who rebel
    against the guards of the asylum where they are living.
2) The film features an all-dwarf cast.

The following clip shows the inmates setting fire to pots of flowers. Also a car that they stole is running around in circles. Black and white. I couldn't see much of the subtitles except - The barns on fire!
Film Trailer Click Here it shows nothing. 

Description to trailer:
The lunatics take over the asylum and anarchy reigns in this deranged parody of human society, performed by a cast consisting entirely of dwarfs. Watch out for the crucified monkey!

Another clip Click Here

Herzog's Stroszek (1977)
1) is a film about a Berlin street performer (Bruno S.)
2) who is released from prison and flees to Wisconsin with his prostitute companion (Eva Mattes).
3) They attempt to assimilate into American life, but eventually everything falls apart.
4) Bruno and his friend Scheitz (Clemens Scheitz) become convinced that the world is conspiring
    against them,
5) and after finding the bank closed, proceed to rob a barber shop.

Stroszek (Werner Herzog, 1977):

The following clip displays the chaos of the aftermath of the robbery as Bruno retreats into an arcade. The sequence shows a chicken dancing, a duck playing a drum, and a rabbit riding a toy fire truck in coin-operated attractions.

The truck is going around in circles - like the other film. he gets out of the car and the tow truck keeps going around. Fort Tomohawk one store says, there are fake teepees. Now the guy from the tow truck goes into that very strange amusement arcade with a chicken playing the piano...etc. He's now trying to light up the ski lift... he's holding a gun oh and some money too... i hear the sirens coming closer but he looks like he is getting away with it. No, he shoots himself.

Herzog's dancing chicken explained Click Here

YouTube clip of the ending including dancing chicken Click Here

Herzog BAFTA interview  Click Here "There is no training ground for filmmaking" Werner Herzog on Directing, Director Werner Herzog talks collaborators, why he teaches lock picking and faking documents at his film school and how the story for Grizzly Man came to him – “I wasn’t looking for a story, I was looking for my car keys.”

Another interesting Herzog film:

Description someone wrote:

I just watched this wonderful documentary. It is incredibly elegant and gentle in showing how human life is miserable and silly.

I also really appreciated how messy and manifold it is, touching so many arguments.