Review of Fata Morgana (1972) by Tristan G — 21 Sep 2009

It's hard to know what to say about this film. I have been thinking about it on and off for about a week, since I saw it for the first time.

Herzog just seems to strike a chord perfectly with his visuals. This is like a piece of found-object art where he just shows us what and who he finds in the unspecified areas of Africa.

Images become distorted through repetition. Often what we see is open to interpretation. Or perhaps Herzog doesn't even want us to think.

I wasn't interested in most of the narration, especially the readings from the Mayan myths, which I thought didn't match up with the visuals well.

Memorable images abound here, whether it be a recurring pair of goggles, a ghostly, meandering mirage or a singer whose voice sounds like a trumpet. Ace.