Review of Stroszek (1977) by Brian V — 08 Aug 2013

Werner Herzog has always despised formality and constantly fought against long-established hollywood conventions. He rarely felt the need to end his movies on a happy note and often used a number of non-actors in his films.

Herzog specifically wrote the screenplay for Stroszek with Bruno S. in mind, a man who had been in mental institutions or jail for much of his life and who essentially plays himself in the title role.

Some have seen this film as an uncompromising attack on the concept of the "American Dream" but I see it as a film about people so peculiar and eccentric that they wouldn't fit in anywhere, even Plainfield, "Railroad Flats" Wisconsin.

Herzog brilliantly weaves extremely odd yet compelling images into an astonishing tapestry, culminating in one of the most unforgettable scenes in the history of cinema.