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Lessons of Darkness

Original title: Lektionen in Finsternis
  • 19921992
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 54m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Lektionen in Finsternis (1992)
  • Documentary
  • War
This film surveys the disaster of the Kuwaiti oil fields in flames, with little narration and scarcely any interviews. Hell on Earth is presented in such transcendent visions and music that ... Read allThis film surveys the disaster of the Kuwaiti oil fields in flames, with little narration and scarcely any interviews. Hell on Earth is presented in such transcendent visions and music that one can only be fascinated by it.This film surveys the disaster of the Kuwaiti oil fields in flames, with little narration and scarcely any interviews. Hell on Earth is presented in such transcendent visions and music that one can only be fascinated by it.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Werner Herzog
  • Writer
    • Werner Herzog
  • Star
    • Werner Herzog(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Werner Herzog
  • Writer
    • Werner Herzog
  • Star
    • Werner Herzog(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 33User reviews
    • 36Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos11

    Lektionen in Finsternis (1992)
    Lektionen in Finsternis (1992)
    Lektionen in Finsternis (1992)
    Lektionen in Finsternis (1992)
    Lektionen in Finsternis (1992)
    Lektionen in Finsternis (1992)
    Lektionen in Finsternis (1992)
    Lektionen in Finsternis (1992)
    Lektionen in Finsternis (1992)
    Lektionen in Finsternis (1992)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Werner Herzog
    Werner Herzog
    • Narratoras Narrator
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • Werner Herzog
    • Writer
      • Werner Herzog
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    This film surveys the disaster of the Kuwaiti oil fields in flames, with little narration and scarcely any interviews. Hell on Earth is presented in such transcendent visions and music that one can only be fascinated by it.
    • oil field fire
    • combustion
    • heat
    • environmental disaster
    • sealing an oil well
    • 73 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Werner Herzog cheerfully admitted that the quote at the beginning of the film, allegedly by Pascal, was completely made up and falsely attributed to give it more weight.
    • Goofs
      In an aerial shot, the shadow of the camera's helicopter is visible (about 10 minutes, 8 seconds into the film).
    • Quotes

      Narrator: Two figures are approaching an oil well. One of them holds a lighted torch. What are they up to? Are they going to rekindle the blaze? Is life without fire become unbearable for them?... Others, seized by madness, follow suit. Now they are content. Now there is something to extinguish again.

    • Connections
      Featured in Zomergasten: Episode #7.3 (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 (Death of Aase)
      Written by Edvard Grieg

    User reviews33

    Review
    Top review
    Never call Herzog a dilettante
    Never call Werner Herzog a dilettante. When he sets out to make a film, he's willing to die for it. Although this film could have easily been adjusted to a pure documentary of the oil fires in Kuwait after the Iraq invasion, Herzog takes it to much higher levels. War. Apocalypse. Mythical Disaster. The End of Life as we knew it. THE Struggle (and, since this is made by a dark-visioned German, we do NOT win the struggle. At best, we earn a temporary truce with the Devil.) This is perhaps the MOST BEAUTIFULLY PHOTOGRAPHED COLOR film I've EVER seen. Bar none. The scoring, as usual, is unique and perfect. "Lessons of Darkness" is atypically vague for a film in my category "Life Changers", yet I am left extremely moved by the powerful effects of an exquisite visual and audio work of Art.
    helpful•14
    1
    • futures-1
    • Oct 28, 2006

    FAQ2

    • Why are the workers igniting/reigniting the gushers?
    • Why would they use an explosive substance like dynamite to extinguish the well fires? Isn't that even more dangerous?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 26, 2002 (Hong Kong)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • United Kingdom
      • Germany
    • Languages
      • German
      • English
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • Lecciones en la oscuridad
    • Filming locations
      • Kuwait
    • Production companies
      • Canal+
      • Première
      • Werner Herzog Filmproduktion
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

    Related news

    Werner Herzog Sets Shooting Star Documentary ‘Fireball’ at Apple TV Plus
    Werner Herzog Sets Shooting Star Documentary ‘Fireball’ at Apple TV Plus
    Jul 24Variety Film + TV
    Notebook Primer: Werner Herzog
    Notebook Primer: Werner Herzog
    Jul 21MUBI

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