Watched it in cinema nearly four decades ago, and three frames of image have been stuck in my head ever since. The panorama view of wide Amazon River, the tilted wooden steamer on the mountain slope, and the peculiar face of wild-eyed Klaus Kinski. Frankly I didn't appreciate what the movie was all about and why it was made (to assert white supremacy, over native Indians?) then. Recently I picked up a DVD and watched it for the second time. All those images came alive before my eyes like they have never left. For me there is a thought in addition to my old experience: masterpiece.
About ten years before FITZCARRALDO (1982), Herzog wrote and directed AQUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD (1972). Both are about a mad man and his crazy dream set in Amazon. It seems Herzog maight use (or, actually used) some of the previous footage, because the location, pace and style are similar. In terms of movie-making technique, Herzog lagged behind others who were responsible for jungle flicks like APOCALYPSE NOW (1979), THE BALLAD OF NARAYAMA (1983) and THE MISSION (1986). Hence the 7-stars.
CC's appearance is too few and her role is too "flat." That's a pity.
About ten years before FITZCARRALDO (1982), Herzog wrote and directed AQUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD (1972). Both are about a mad man and his crazy dream set in Amazon. It seems Herzog maight use (or, actually used) some of the previous footage, because the location, pace and style are similar. In terms of movie-making technique, Herzog lagged behind others who were responsible for jungle flicks like APOCALYPSE NOW (1979), THE BALLAD OF NARAYAMA (1983) and THE MISSION (1986). Hence the 7-stars.
CC's appearance is too few and her role is too "flat." That's a pity.