None of us knows what truth is, so I touch it only with a pair of pliers
April 28, 2022 7:40 PM Subscribe
Werner Herzog Has Never Liked Introspection. During the pandemic, the legendary director completed two films and wrote two books. The first is "[p]art adventure narrative, part memoir, and part unclassifiable lyric, “The Twilight World” tells the story of Hiroo Onoda, an actual Japanese soldier who manned his post on the island of Lubang, in the Philippines, for three decades after the Second World War had ended, having convinced himself that it had not", and the second about himself, describing it as "some sort of memoir, but not in terms of an autobiography. Only part of it is about my life. It’s really about the origins of ideas."
I'm about halfway through Herzog's extended autobiographical interview, Werner Herzog: A Guide for the Perplexed, and highly recommend it. There literally isn't a dull sentence.
posted by acb at 1:10 AM on April 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by acb at 1:10 AM on April 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
Great thanks, now everything reads and sounds like Werner Herzog.
Seriously, In the most deeply felt ways across all of humanity, I share my gratitude.
Sooooooo many crazy stories . . .
Once he threw himself on a cactus to apologize for setting actors on fire.
Still has part of it in his elbow.
No one like him. Thanks.
posted by epjr at 4:20 AM on April 29, 2022
Seriously, In the most deeply felt ways across all of humanity, I share my gratitude.
Sooooooo many crazy stories . . .
Once he threw himself on a cactus to apologize for setting actors on fire.
Still has part of it in his elbow.
No one like him. Thanks.
posted by epjr at 4:20 AM on April 29, 2022
Someday I've got to get around to watching, and maybe reading, Herzog
His recent movies are great, but nothing can top Aguirre, with Fitzcarraldo coming in a close second. I realize that Kinski is beyond problematic, but if you can separate the art from the artist there is very little that is better than he and Herzog at their peak.
posted by Literaryhero at 5:16 AM on April 29, 2022 [10 favorites]
His recent movies are great, but nothing can top Aguirre, with Fitzcarraldo coming in a close second. I realize that Kinski is beyond problematic, but if you can separate the art from the artist there is very little that is better than he and Herzog at their peak.
posted by Literaryhero at 5:16 AM on April 29, 2022 [10 favorites]
> His recent movies are great, but nothing can top Aguirre, with Fitzcarraldo coming in a close second
I’m a huge Fitzcarraldo fan. But Cave of Forgotten Dreams was an incredible movie to see in 3D. You could actually see how the paintings had this weird illusion of movement because the surfaces they were painted on were curved.
On the weirder side, his turn as a villain named The Zek in Jack Reacher was bizarre and unexpected. I also liked Stellan Skarsgård pretending to be Herzog on a few episodes of Entourage.
posted by paulcole at 7:16 AM on April 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
I’m a huge Fitzcarraldo fan. But Cave of Forgotten Dreams was an incredible movie to see in 3D. You could actually see how the paintings had this weird illusion of movement because the surfaces they were painted on were curved.
On the weirder side, his turn as a villain named The Zek in Jack Reacher was bizarre and unexpected. I also liked Stellan Skarsgård pretending to be Herzog on a few episodes of Entourage.
posted by paulcole at 7:16 AM on April 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
I am interested to see his take on Onoda, who is a truly odd figure. He is often shown as a symbol of steadfastness, staying at his post for thirty years. Other times, he is treated as some odd combination of stubborn & clueless. But he also stayed in a country that was not his own for thirty years after the war ended, attacking and killing people in the area. I would imagine Herzog will look at him from every conceivable angle.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:38 AM on April 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:38 AM on April 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
Love Herzog. Something about his documentary Encounters at the End of the World really moved me as a teenager. Herzog believing his writing will outlast his films is the most Herzog thing he could say, toeing a fine line of contrarian and absurd, funny and deep. I did read his memoir of his 3 week walk (not a hike!) from Munich to Paris, Of Walking on Ice, and enjoyed it a lot.
Also, Herzog speaking passionately in German to Wim Wenders in Tokyo about his pursuit of "pure" images has always stuck with me, despite not really having any idea what he means.
posted by Corduroy at 9:01 AM on April 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
Also, Herzog speaking passionately in German to Wim Wenders in Tokyo about his pursuit of "pure" images has always stuck with me, despite not really having any idea what he means.
posted by Corduroy at 9:01 AM on April 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
Warner Herzog's life advice:
http://kottke.org/15/01/24-pieces-of-life-advice-from-werner-herzog
1. Always take the initiative.
2. There is nothing wrong with spending a night in jail if it means getting the shot you need.
3. Send out all your dogs and one might return with prey.
4. Never wallow in your troubles; despair must be kept private and brief.
5. Learn to live with your mistakes.
6. Expand your knowledge and understanding of music and literature, old and modern.
7. That roll of unexposed celluloid you have in your hand might be the last in existence, so do something impressive with it.
8. There is never an excuse not to finish a film.
9. Carry bolt cutters everywhere.
10. Thwart institutional cowardice.
11. Ask for forgiveness, not permission.
12. Take your fate into your own hands.
13. Learn to read the inner essence of a landscape.
14. Ignite the fire within and explore unknown territory.
15. Walk straight ahead, never detour.
16. Manoeuvre and mislead, but always deliver.
17. Don't be fearful of rejection.
18. Develop your own voice.
19. Day one is the point of no return.
20. A badge of honor is to fail a film theory class.
21. Chance is the lifeblood of cinema.
22. Guerrilla tactics are best.
23. Take revenge if need be.
24. Get used to the bear behind you.
posted by armoir from antproof case at 11:14 AM on April 29, 2022 [10 favorites]
http://kottke.org/15/01/24-pieces-of-life-advice-from-werner-herzog
1. Always take the initiative.
2. There is nothing wrong with spending a night in jail if it means getting the shot you need.
3. Send out all your dogs and one might return with prey.
4. Never wallow in your troubles; despair must be kept private and brief.
5. Learn to live with your mistakes.
6. Expand your knowledge and understanding of music and literature, old and modern.
7. That roll of unexposed celluloid you have in your hand might be the last in existence, so do something impressive with it.
8. There is never an excuse not to finish a film.
9. Carry bolt cutters everywhere.
10. Thwart institutional cowardice.
11. Ask for forgiveness, not permission.
12. Take your fate into your own hands.
13. Learn to read the inner essence of a landscape.
14. Ignite the fire within and explore unknown territory.
15. Walk straight ahead, never detour.
16. Manoeuvre and mislead, but always deliver.
17. Don't be fearful of rejection.
18. Develop your own voice.
19. Day one is the point of no return.
20. A badge of honor is to fail a film theory class.
21. Chance is the lifeblood of cinema.
22. Guerrilla tactics are best.
23. Take revenge if need be.
24. Get used to the bear behind you.
posted by armoir from antproof case at 11:14 AM on April 29, 2022 [10 favorites]
You just know he was talking about literal bears
posted by sjswitzer at 12:37 PM on April 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by sjswitzer at 12:37 PM on April 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
Thank you for this.
My first exposure to Herzog was in the reviews by Roger Ebert of his films.
Example: Nosferatu
My first exposure to Herzog was in the reviews by Roger Ebert of his films.
Example: Nosferatu
There is often something fearful and awesome in Herzog's depiction of nature. It is not uplifting so much as remorseless. Clouds fall low and drift like water. Peaks tower in intimidation. Shadows hint at horrors. The simple peasants that Jonathan Harker encounters on his journey are not colorful and friendly, but withdraw from him. Herzog takes his time before allowing us our first sight of Dracula; his stage has been set by words and the looks in eyes of people who cannot believe he is seeking the Count.posted by Caxton1476 at 1:42 PM on April 29, 2022
I was privileged to be in the audience when he came to Boston to accept the 2018 Coolidge Award (https://coolidge.org/about-us/coolidge-award/werner-herzog). At one point someone asked him if he knew how funny he was, and he replied that he is always serious. He *absolutely* knew how funny he can be. What a fabulous artist and person. It was a joy to be in the same room with him.
posted by mollymillions at 4:01 PM on April 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by mollymillions at 4:01 PM on April 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
Well now I have Tubi. And Bruno S. is indeed amazing.
posted by aquanaut at 5:21 PM on April 29, 2022
posted by aquanaut at 5:21 PM on April 29, 2022
"When somebody espouses New Age ideas, I always lower my head and charge." Seriously funny.
posted by bigZLiLk at 4:41 AM on May 2, 2022
posted by bigZLiLk at 4:41 AM on May 2, 2022
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