Review of Heart of Glass (1976) by Allen G — 08 Aug 2013

Due to being the result of, possibly Herzog's wackiest idea to date (hypnotising the cast) this one seemed doomed to amount to nothing more than another tale in the long list of interesting things about Herzog's films. Thankfully though, it amounts to more than just a walking gimmick and while it's not the best thing you'll ever see, the setting that Herzog creates is unique and strange- Even if that is ultimately what prevents the film from being great, it is a worthwhile sacrifice for such a creative endeavour.

Let's start with the hypnotism then- it's a fun idea and Herzog's reasoning behind it is sound but it doesn't do much for the experience really- simply telling the actors to act hypnotised would have done the trick- aside from one or two of the cast, no one seems truly lost in a way that couldn't otherwise have been performed under normal circumstances. It all adds to the mystique of the film though I suppose.

It's not the most visually-impressive piece from Herzog which feels intentional- the bleak landscape and dreary occupants of it become a strain after a while but it's the only way that such a film could have been effective. Dialogue-wise it's the same story- it's not that interesting and at times it doesn't feel worth following but it transcends the meaning of the words themselves and fits more with the atmosphere, the soul of the utterances. The real strength of this film lies in its premise which is full of artistic possibilities and is able to stand out, while also being a part of, the gloomy nature of the film.

It's classic Herzog in that regard and it really encapsulates the unusual tone of the film, ultimately stopping it from being an interesting failure and instead making it a modest success.

The final scene is strong though and I couldn't help but wonder why the best was saved till last- this film all felt a bit too murky for Herzog, who is usually fairly heavy-handed in his own strange way. This was overbearing due to it's emphasis on that same dragging feeling and it really should have branched out to include the polar opposite- what was life in this town like before the secret of the glass was lost?

Giving us that would stop this film from feeling full of sacrifices, of which there are many. By trying to transport the viewer into this agonising world, the viewing experience ultimately suffers. This, as I've said, was necessary for the film to be worthwhile but we could have had the best of both worlds here if Herzog hadn't been so damn depressing in the 70s!

A quick side note before summing up: the music at the start of this one seemed very out of place and I don't have a clue why. Not usually worth mentioning but Herzog usually impresses me with his musical choices. (even if it's often the same theme recycled for several movies- Herzog fans know the one!).

This is a prime example of ambition and a pure idea that, when combined, make a film that has to be respected. That ambition comes before all else though and as a result, this isn't as powerful as it could have been. It may not fully life up to its brilliant premise but it brings us closer to the dark heart of it than we may have expected.