Review of Encounters at the End of the World (2007) by Luke H — 09 Apr 2011

I've been on a nature kick lately, watching Blue Planet and other documentaries. In all honesty, they don't evoke a lot of positive feeling out of me, awe and wonder. Mostly however, they make me feel small, insignificant, saddened. I wish I could go and see all these beautiful places. I wish I wasn't so burdened with mundane responsibilities that I could just up and go and see and experience it all. It makes me upset that I couldn''t live through the last 100,000 years to see it all develop, and live another 100,000 to see what will happen next. I guess all of it stings my pride, and sense of self-worth. That the world is so much bigger, longer lasting, and more infinite than I am. It is not concerned with me, and I wish it was, I certainly am.

This movie is more than nature documentary however, as supplied by the narration of Werner Herzog. His ruminations are always insightful, off-kilter, philisophical, and curious. He pries into the meaning of life, not allowing pretty landscapes or cute penguins to overwhelm his mind and spirit. It is a beautiful notion, and as the world ends literally in Antarctica, perhaps it is representative of the end of humanity, and what will be here long after we've worn out our welcome.