Aguirre: The Wrath of God (1972) Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (original title)

Director:

Werner Herzog

Writer:

Werner Herzog (written by)

Release Date:

3 April 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History

Tagline:

On this river, God never finished his creation.

Plot:

In the 16th century, the ruthless and insane Aguirre leads a Spanish expedition in search of El Dorado.

Plot Keywords:

Spanish | Expedition | River | Amazon River | Power

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Klaus Kinski	...	Don Lope de Aguirre
Helena Rojo	...	Inez
Del Negro	...	Brother Gaspar de Carvajal
Ruy Guerra	...	Don Pedro de Ursua
Peter Berling	...	Don Fernando de Guzman
Cecilia Rivera	...	Flores
Daniel Ades	...	Perucho
Edward Roland	...	Okello
Alejandro Chavez
Armando Polanah	...	Armando
Daniel Farfán
Julio E. Martínez		(as Julio Martinez)
Alejandro Repullés	...	Gonzalo Pizarro
Indianern der Kooperative Lauramarca
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Justo González	...	González (uncredited)
Antonio Marquez	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Werner Herzog

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Werner Herzog		written by

Produced by
Daniel Camino	....	co-producer
Werner Herzog	....	producer
Hans Prescher	....	producer
Lucki Stipetic	....	line producer

Original Music by
Popol Vuh

Cinematography by
Thomas Mauch

Film Editing by
Beate Mainka-Jellinghaus

Production Management
Gustavo Cerff Abulu	....	unit manager (as Gustavo Cerff Arbulú)
Walter Saxer	....	production manager
Lucki Stipetic	....	production manager

Sound Department
Bob Oliver	....	synchronisation
Herbert Prasch	....	sound

Special Effects by
Juvenal Herrera	....	special effects
Miguel Vázquez	....	special effects (as Miguel Vazquez)

Camera and Electrical Department
Francisco Joán	....	second cinematographer
Orlando Macchiavello	....	second cinematographer
Ovidio Ore	....	assistant camera

Other crew
Ina Fritsche	....	co-worker
Martje Grohmann	....	production assistant
Georg Hagmüller	....	co-worker (as Dr. Georg Hagmüller)
René Lechleitner	....	co-worker
Gerd Martienzen	....	voice dubbing: Klaus Kinski (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Werner Herzog Filmproduktion
• Hessischer Rundfunk (HR) (co-production)

Distributors

• Filmverlag der Autoren (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• New Yorker Films (1977) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Národní Filmový Archiv (NFA) (2007) (Czech Republic) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Applause Productions Inc.
• Ingram International Films
• New Yorker Films (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Palace Video (1982) (UK) (VHS)
• Palace Video (1982) (UK) (video) (Betamax)
• Ripley's Home Video (2005) (Italy) (DVD) (boxed set)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes" - West Germany (original title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:12 | South Korea:15 | South Korea:12 (2002) | Singapore:PG | Argentina:18 | Australia:M (cable rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1991)

Filming Locations:

Aguaruna Lands, Peru

Company:

Werner Herzog Filmproduktion

Trivia:

During a particularly rowdy night of production, Klaus Kinski repeatedly fired a Winchester rifle into an occupied tent. One of the bullets took the tip of an unnamed extra's finger off. Werner Herzog immediately confiscated the weapon and it remains his property to this day.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In one of the final shots, as the camera circles Aguirre's raft, you can see the wake left by the camera boat.

Quotes:

Don Lope de Aguirre:I am the great traitor. There must be no other. Anyone who even thinks about deserting this mission will be cut up into 198 pieces. Those pieces will be stamped on until what is left can be used only to paint walls. Whoever takes one grain of corn or one drop of water...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Soundtrack:

Aguirre, Der Zorn Gottes (Lacrime Di Re)

Aguirre's vision. Aguirre's obsession. Aguirre's downfall......The wrath in 'Human Nature'

Klaus Kinski's enigmatic and frightening portrayal of man's obsession in Werner Herzog's nightmare masterpiece Aguirre: The Wrath Of God is a German film that is as powerful today as it was when released back in 1972. Kinski and Herzog's absolute real life hate for one another only makes the film more real in its depiction of a man driven to the edge of sanity as his obsession for a mythical treasure - so obsessed that he sacrifices all that is precious to him in finding it. Like the 'Mosquito Coast', an almost identical film, it concentrates on the human condition, in how far 'man' can go in his quest of becoming God. Werner Herzog, who's persistence in Klaus Kinski to star in most of his films, is a master storyteller and one great director, famous for other films starring Kinski including "Fitzcarraldo" and "Woyzeck". "Aguirre: The Wrath Of God", however, is his and Klaus Kinski's most famous and one of the most powerful films of all time.

Entirely a true story, set in the 1600s, following the annihilation of the Incas Empire, when the Spanish Conquistadors explored and roamed most of South America, a legendary expedition set out in Peru into the Amazon River to locate the mythical City Of Gold, El Dorado. Pizarro, the leader of the expedition comes to the point where he must turn and head back to civilization, following a long and tormenting journey that ultimately led them to nowhere. Fearing they'll get lost in the uncharted jungles of the Amazon, he sends a smaller group to complete the journey and commands them to return within a few days if no Gold is found. It is only a matter of time before this group faces unbearable difficulties down the Amazon River. Fearing the leader of their new group might turn back to prevent any more men being killed, Don Lope de Aguirre (Kinski) inspires a mutiny and manipulates the men in believing that with the riches they would find they wouldn't need to go home. They must battle with the native enemy they can't see and walk through the most difficult terrain on a most terrifying quest. What follows is a devastating character study of human nature and how one's obsession can destroy him and everything that really matters.

This film comes as a rarity in our world gone mad - a world controlled by greedy, obsessed and powerful dehumanized people. Klaus Kinski was one of the world's most profound and versatile actors. His rough, striking and villainous exterior gave him an almighty presence. He creates such a vividly obsessed and evil character in the film, you are easily convinced he is for real. I believe his abhorrence for Werner Herzog assisted him in his performance. Never during filming did they ever share ideas, always opposing and showing one's hatred for one another, which leaves people questioning their constant repairing. But Werner Herzog makes no mistake when casting Kinski in his films. Kinski drives the film, sometimes completely on his own. Werner Herzog's films are always extremely deep, philosophical and mythical. The cinematography is consistently breathtaking and never fails to transport you to the world Herzog intends to take you. And music perfectly paints the picture of human degradation, with its slow, subtle and haunting tone. It sticks in your head long after the conclusion and adds immensely to the the power of the film.

'Aguirre: The Wrath Of God', much like 'The Mosquito Coast', is one of the most poignant character studies in film history. It is in German with subtitles, but you are bound to forget they are there, as this epic film will take you to the vast and dehumanizing Amazon on an adventurous journey you will never forget. See this for the adventure if not for the underlining depth. It is a master work from a unique artist that is Werner Herzog and made a classic by the colossal Klaus Kinski. A beautiful and haunting experience that is not to be missed.