In Werner Herzog’s epic drama, Spanish conquistador Lope de Aguirre crosses South America in search of El Dorado to a krautrock soundtrack by Popul Vuh.
Werner Herzog could be called a conquistador of cinema, obsessively looking for places previously untrodden by human feet. All of his films are attempts to cover the uncoverable, know the unknown, and overcome what cannot be overcome—and his protagonists, the director admits, are as mad as him. The protagonist of Aguirre is certainly a good example of madness. During a doomed mission to find the imaginary riches allegedly hidden in Amazonia, Aguirre, who calls himself “the Wrath of God,” rebels and leaves his crew, led by the thirst for power and recognition. Fighting against the nature, hunger and his own self, he descends into the abyss of madness and violence, losing his human qualities but remaining faithful to his dream of future conquests.
Herzog’s third feature, which marked the beginning of his brilliant and explosive collaborations with actor Klaus Kinski, is featured on many lists of the most important films in history and has influenced many great pictures including Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now.
The film will be introduced by Rosebud’s head editor Viktor Zatsepin and curator and producer Maya Kuzina, who will also present the publisher’s newly released book Werner Herzog: A Guide for the Perplexed: Conversations with Paul Cronin.
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Director: Werner Herzog
Germany, Mexico, Peru, 1972. 95 min. 16+
