Herzog For Your Queue

Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
A documentary about Fini Straubinger, a deaf and blind woman who works to make contact with other isolated people. “If you want to find depth in any of my movies,” says Herzog, “that’s the deepest. Just watch it and you will know.”

Aguirre: The Wrath of God (1972)
The first of several collaborations between Herzog and actor Klaus Kinski remains the model for them all. Kinski owns the screen, even when Herzog throws horses and 400 monkeys at him.

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser (1974)
For one of his most lyrical films, Herzog cast mysterious unknown Bruno S. in the title role. About using nonprofessional actors, Herzog says, “The only thing that counts is, ‘Does a person appearing on screen illuminate you and captivate you?’ And then, in such a case, everybody is professional.”

Fitzcarraldo (1982)
Burden of Dreams (1982)
The notoriously difficult production of Herzog’s Fitzcarraldo is best told in Les Blank’s documentary Burden of Dreams, an up-close look at Herzog’s intertwined madness and genius. For a double feature, watch both Blank’s film and Hearts of Darkness—a documentary about the making of Apocalypse Now—and marvel at the hubris of filmmakers who dare to tame the jungle. For Coppola it was folly; for Herzog it’s a lifelong obsession.