My Best Fiend (1999)
"Mein liebster Feind - Klaus Kinski" (original title)

In the 1950s, a teenage Werner Herzog was transfixed by a film performance of the young Klaus Kinski. Years later, they would share an apartment where, in an unabated, 48 hour fit of rage, ... See full summary »

Director:

Werner Herzog

Stars:

Werner Herzog, Claudia Cardinale, Justo González

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Werner Herzog	...	Himself - Narrator / Interviewer
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Claudia Cardinale	...	Herself
Justo González	...	Himself
Mick Jagger	...	Himself - Wilbur (archive footage)
Klaus Kinski	...	Himself (archive footage)
Eva Mattes	...	Herself
Thomas Mauch	...	Himself
Benino Moreno Placido	...	Himself
Beat Presser	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jason Robards	...	Fitzcarraldo (archive footage)
Guillermo Ríos	...	Himself (archive footage)
Walter Saxer	...	Himself (archive footage)
Baron van der Recke	...	Himself
Baronin van der Recke	...	Herself
Andrés Vicente	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

In the 1950s, a teenage Werner Herzog was transfixed by a film performance of the young Klaus Kinski. Years later, they would share an apartment where, in an unabated, 48 hour fit of rage, Kinski completely destroyed the bathroom. From this chaos, a violent, love-hate, profoundly creative partnership was born. In 1972, Herzog cast Kinski in Aguirre, Wrath of God. Four more films would follow. In this personal documentary, Herzog traces the often violent ups and downs of their relationship, revisiting the various locations of their films and talking to the people they worked with.

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Plot Keywords:

shouting | reminiscences | hysterics | excess | south america | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Details

Country:

Germany UK Finland USA

Language:

German English Spanish

Release Date:

7 October 1999 (Germany)

Also Known As:

My Best Fiend

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$7,677 (USA) (5 November 1999)

Gross:

$95,612 (USA) (25 August 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, Cafe Productions Ltd., Zephir Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Werner Herzog: Every grey hair on my head, I call Kinski.

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Connections

Features Fitzcarraldo (1982)

User Reviews

Utterly fascinating documentary about the extraordinary Klaus Kinski. Absolutely essential viewing for all Kinski buffs!

'My Best Friend' is one of the most fascinating documentaries I've ever seen about movies and acting. Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski only made five movies together, but what extraordinary movies they are! Kinski made many, many movies, many of them absolutely awful (though all worth watching even if only for him). In fact it's difficult to think of any other actor of his undoubted talent who slummed it quite as much as he did. Herzog is regarded as one of Germany's greatest ever directors and made many fine movies without Kinski, but the two together were really something special. Just watch the astonishing 'Aguirre: The Wrath Of God' if you want to be floored by total genius! Much of this documentary deals with the trials and tribulations of that movie's troubled shoot, but their other four collaborations are also discussed. Their relationship was a complex one and really hard to get your head around. At times they literally tried to kill each other, but then there's footage included that shows their obvious warmth and affection for each other. You could say that this documentary provokes more questions than answers, and if you are looking for a straightforward explanation of Kinski's behaviour and what Herzog REALLY thought about him then maybe you could regard this as a failure. Anyway, I was enthralled and I think any fan of Kinski must regard this as essential viewing. From the opening footage of a raving Kinski on stage proclaiming he was Christ to the final moments of a butterfly flitting around his face this is mesmerizing stuff, and not to be missed by anyone with every a remote interest in this unique actor. Highly recommended!