1972's
"Aguirre, the Wrath of God" by Werner Herzog.
Starring
Klauz Kinski and Del Negro.
“Wrath”
is about a 16th century group of Spanish Conquistadors in search of the golden
city of El Dorado. Fresh off of their conquering of the Inca empire, a group of
armoured men, a man of faith, inca slaves, and a king, trudge through forests
and rivers, carrying all sorts of ill suited paraphernalia in search of the
fabled city. The horrors of capitalism and colonialism (endless expansion and
complete annihilation of natives) are quickly joined with extraordinary hubris
and denial as the party continues to shrink, the food supplies wear down, and
the emperor wears less and less clothing.
Featuring
an amazing score by Popul Vuh, "Aguirre" was cited as a major
influence on Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now", which also was both a great movie and
fascinating making of a movie. Director Herzog and actor Kinski had such a conflict
driven relationship that Herzog apparently made Kinski act at gunpoint. Herzog
apparently also would indulge Kinski's legendary tantrums until Kinski would
peter out, and then roll the camera. The 2 of them would end up making 5 films
together, as they seemed to bring the best out of each other. Here, Kinski is
electrifying as the anarchist troublemaker turned mutiny orchestrator, all
cunning and sneering bully tactics. Herzog often has been called an artist of
capturing both nature's power and mankind's folly, and at the conclusion of the
film, with madness incarnate at the helm, it is clear to us someone is confused
whom is subject to god's wrath.
4/5
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