Review of Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010) by Chris W — 02 Sep 2012

It is unfortunate that the Chauvet Cave in France is nearly inaccessible, as it is home to the oldest cave drawings in the world. Fortunately, the best possible choice for a documentarian on the cave was given unprecedented access to embark on an expedition to film what is hidden down there.

The film was shot on a strict set of rules, and in 3D. I didn't unfortunately get to see it this way, but I could tell that it was used effectively given how the paintings are done on the curves of the cave walls instead of flat canvases. The film is actually really straightforward and seems like a typical documentary. Of course, it's not completely that way, as Herzog's unmistakable voice and way of speaking dominate the proceedings, but it really is pretty basic stuff. Granted, it's still a good film, despite this, and its important due to the subject matter, but it doesn't stand out like Herzog's other stuff does. I do appreciate how the paintings are treated and analyzed as art though, but while I do like it when he features eccentric talking heads, it all felt really repetitive and tedious here.

I'm probably being just a tad kind to this film, mostly because I love Herzog, am a history student, and work as a tour guide in a cave, but those biases aside, this is some good stuff, just kinda uneven in its presentation.