Brilliant


What a great film. Really quite challenging, but once you accept what Herzog is trying to do and let it wash over you rather than search for meaning or narrative focus it feels like being in a trance (like the majority of his cast).
Much like my experience with Fata Morgana as soon as the DVD finished I immediately started it again from the beginning and watched it through with Herzog's commentary track to hear some of his insights into his methods and his intentions. If you have the chance I strongly recommend a listen to the track - in fact all of his commentary tracks - they are illuminating and fascinating, and certainly in this case also very funny.
I have massive respect for Herzog as a highly intelligent man creating something different in cinema, but also as a straight forward entertainer and story teller. He's a fascinating man to listen to. His comment near the end of the film that in his opinion all directors should have supplementary skills like being able to milk a cow, forge a document or break into a car made me laugh a lot.

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"Heart of Glass" is truly a work of art and Herzog's audio commentaries are all very informative, fascinating and hilarious in a weird way. ;)

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I agree. The ending is quite cathartic and concludes with an enormous emotional energy, cold, blank, nostalgic and heartbreakingly poignant. So beautiful to watch.

I will say, however, that this is NOT for a "Herzog-virgin". Out of the Herzogian context I could see quite easily how this film could drive someone completely crazy. Even someone who understands that they're going into something odd and "artsy" will find themselves challenged if they're unfamiliar with Herzog's work, intentions, and ideas.

Within that context, however, it's quite astounding and brave. It's tough to find films made with this kind of ballsy gusto. It's daring in its audacity.

“No man can be a genius in slapshoes and a flat hat.” - Buster Keaton

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Yeah it´s about as "out there" as it gets... and both the first and the last 6-7 minutes in particular are some of the most magical stuff ever committed to celluloid. Almost none of the dialogue makes any sense as sane people would have it... and yet it kind of ´does´ makes sense in some ways, resonating powerfully deep down... opening up phantasmagoric worlds upon worlds. The damn thing is like a supernova, bursting out in all directions at once. What balls and what vision Herzog had back then.



"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

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