Review of Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) by Marcus W — 31 Jul 2010

Any film that allegedly "inspired Apocalypse Now" has got to be seen, and it's a film that only Herzog could pull off. Broken down, this film is essentially a Shakespearean tale of politics and power told on a raft in the middle of the Amazon.

As always, it's the shots where Herzog allows the camera to linger on nature and capture it's absolute unpredictability - such as the brief scene with the butterfly - that stand out. It hasn't aged well, some of the acting is off, and the film frequently seems unsure whether it's a film or a documentary.

But it is essential viewing.