Review of Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) by Michael R — 26 Nov 2007
Aguirre will always be a legend among filmmakers because of the amazing risks Werner Herzog took to shoot this low-budget masterpiece. Until yesterday I never knew how daunting it was to make. It's an amazing film even if you forget about the filming challenges.
It opens with a beautiful scene of soldiers and Incans descending through the Andes. It is both beautiful and perilous. This sets the stage for the rapid spiral downward that is to come. The audience and most of the expidition members sense the futility of the journey.
The only one oblivious to the suicidality of the undertaking is the power-hungry and greedy Aguirre who seals everyone's demise. There's not a lot of dialogue in the film and there's not a lot of action but an incredible sense of claustrophobia and foreboding.
The closing shot is one of the most memorable in all of film history.
This review of Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) was written by Michael R on 26 Nov 2007.
Aguirre, the Wrath of God has generally received very positive reviews.
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