Review of Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (1991) by Ol R — 11 Jun 2012

Much like Burden of Dreams and other similar documentaries, Hearts of Darkness explores the difficulties and chaos of producing a grand-scale film. While the production of Fitzcarraldo was certainly a trial for director Werner Herzog, Apocalypse Now's production often had Coppola's experience mirror that of Joseph Conrad's Marlow, struggling with his own demons while wrestling to please his backers.

Knowing the ultimate success of the film makes the darkest moments where Coppola is saying he'll be finished in the industry all the more poignant, and the documentary is an excellent depiction of an artist at the peak of his abilities testing his limits.

This documentary is essential viewing to anyone interested in making movies and is a fascinating character study.