Class Minutes          10/29/01

New German Film

The director that was discussed was Werner Herzog

I.  Werner Herzog

-         His films present scenes which look at seeing in a new way.  Often in a mystical and dreamy way.

-         He liked shooting on location, regardless of how hard it would be.

-         He did not like using special effects.

-         Some claim that he was mad, or crazy.

-         He had a professional love-hate relationship with Klaus Kinski

II.   Video clip from:  “Aguirre; the Wrath of God”  -1973

-         This film tells the story of a group on a journey and their experiences, in order to get to El Derado.

-         The main character, played by Kinski, goes from mild to totally mad/crazy.

-         There is very bazaar and extravagant scenery, and it is all shot on location.

-         This movie could be looked at in a political way, because it shows colonization.

-         The circle and going in circles is an important symbol to Herzog.

III.   Video clip from:  “Every Man for Himself and God Against Everyone”  - 1975

-         This film is about an 18-year old boy discovered in the center of a town, being put there by his keeper.  The boy, Kaspar, is uncivilized. 

-         This film questions how society corrupts and affects the boy.

-         In the video clip, Herzog wants to give the audience a visual effect by such things as using music.

IV.   Video clip from:  “Woyzeck”  -1975

-         This film comes from a play in the early 1800’s

-         It is about a peasant who tries to earn money by selling his body to science.  He is also a barber and a soldier.  He is eventually driven mad because his girlfriend had an affair.  He then kills her

-         In the video clip, Herzog creates an effective murder scene without using any special effects.

V.    Video clip from:  “Stroszek”  -1977

-         This film is about a bipolar man who comes to America with his wife and a friend.  He eventually loses everything in his life, then commits suicide.

-         This film contains scenes that show the madness, such as all the farm animals in the showcases.