Review of Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010) by Matt G — 01 Dec 2011

In 1994 the Chauvet caves of Southern France were discovered. And inside them are breathtaking images of cave art, footprints, and bones that belong to both animals and humans from over 30 thousand years ago. Filmmaker Werner Herzog is allowed to accompany a small group of scientists inside the caves to share this with the world.

This cave is well preserved and almost nobody is ever allowed inside these caves. I'm thankful that Herzon was able to get access. Wener Herzog released a documentary in 2007 called Encounters at the End of the World. It's one of the most beautiful documentaries I've ever seen. Cave of Forgotten Dreams is just as beautiful. Both films remind us that we live on a very big and very old planet. And both films bring us to a place we'll most likley never seen in our lifetime. But Herzog's narration and the images he shares made me feel like I was looking through a window and seeing everything he saw.

It's not very often that I think about the land I'm standing on. And I almost never think about what use to be under my feet 30 thousand years ago. Just to think that 30 thousand years ago someone drew these images for whatever possible reason. And here we are in a completely different period of time and art is still in human blood.

This film opens with a very short back story regarding the small group that discovered the cave. And less than 5 minutes into the film you'll see the first images of the cave drawings. I was instantly hooked from that moment until the film ended. And just when you think you've seen all the cave has to offer, you'll see more and more. The cave looks like something from another planet or something that was meant to never be discovered. And since we will never be allowed to see this cave ourselves we have the wonderful art form of film to give us a breathtaking view. Herzog asks us several questions while narrating this film that really open our minds to the endless possibilities of what took place inside these caves. After the film ended I asked myself a few questions. Are there others? And 30,000 years from now will the next generation of human life find graffiti art spay painted on abandoned buildings and wonder what they mean?

This is by far the best Documentary of 2011 and I promise you'll see it on my Top 10 films of the year.

I give Cave of Forgotten Dreams... 4 Stars.