Review of Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010) by John R — 17 Oct 2011
Illustrating the potential for impressive artistic expression in the field of documentaries, Cave of Forgotten Dreams is a small cinematic triumph. It is a rare chance to explore the great cave paintings at Chauvet in France, soaking up the beautiful depictions of horses, lions, mammoths, rhinos and bears that populated Ice Age Europe along with early humans.
The paintings hardly seem 30,000 years old but that's how old they actually are - they are interspersed with the visceral claw marks of now-extinct cave bears both atop and beneath the human daubings, showing that for the vast majority of its existence, the cave belonged to the animal kingdom rather than mankind's.
The 3D cinematography is thoroughly engrossing and holds exciting prospects for a similar exploration of other largely inaccessible Stone Age sites and the pyramids of Egypt, while the music is expertly-concocted to heighten the atmospheric experience of the caves.
The only possible downside is director Werner Herzog's occasionally quixotic diversions: I was left wishing the time spent on these ruminations was instead devoted to yet more loving swoops across the remnants of the earliest great artworks known today.
This review of Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010) was written by John R on 17 Oct 2011.
Cave of Forgotten Dreams has generally received positive reviews.
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