MovieChat Forums > On Death Row (2012) Discussion > somebody else should've asked the questi...

somebody else should've asked the questions

posted 9 years ago by cheshire_kitten
8 replies | jump to latest

as a german myself it's really hard for me to hear him speak with his thick german accent - it's so distracting! And I often had the feeling Herzog didn't unterstand them.

[–] De-illusionist 9 years ago

I agree.I'm Japanese and cannot figure out which accent is which,but he has strong accent.

And some inmate who was on the show talks really fast.

But maybe someone who help language issues is their with him,just maybe?(I hope)

As some of inmates who was on the show is not here on earth to explain.
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[–] Daimaju 9 years ago

German myself, can't disagree more.
Herzog did a great job and at what point did you have the feeling he didn't understand them?
Also, his accent wasn't even that bad, I heard worse, much worse.

In the end, it is quite anal to bitch about something like that, especially in the context of the documentaries topic.

People need something to bitch and moan about, it seems.
But, we Germans are known for that after all, are we not?

[–] GraceFromSoCal 9 years ago

German myself, can't disagree more.
Herzog did a great job and at what point did you have the feeling he didn't understand them?
Also, his accent wasn't even that bad, I heard worse, much worse.

In the end, it is quite anal to bitch about something like that, especially in the context of the documentaries topic.

I agree. As I've mentioned in another thread, I think Herzog's German heritage, and his personal knowledge of the Holocaust, are important parts of this series. His perspective is quite different from most others who might have done the narration/questioning. Besides, I don't struggle to understand him at all. I LIKE listening to people with foreign accents. I think it's interesting.

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[–] puirt-a-beul 9 years ago

I agree with you, Daimaju, about herzog.

I never had a problem understanding either his words or his intent. Perhaps on occasion Herzog did play a bit dumb, but it was as a way of getting them to say more on a key point without risking his leading their comments in a specific direction. That's a legitimate "active listening" technique, and a smart way to conduct an interview.

I really admired the way Herzog got so much information from his subjects without imposing his own personality or beliefs on what they had to say. So many interviewers spend their time mostly expounding their own opinions, and leaving their subjects to simply agree. Herzog's too intelligent a filmmaker to do that.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] emo_ville2002 9 years ago

I never had a problem understanding either his words or his intent. Perhaps on occasion Herzog did play a bit dumb, but it was as a way of getting them to say more on a key point without risking his leading their comments in a specific direction. That's a legitimate "active listening" technique, and a smart way to conduct an interview.

I really admired the way Herzog got so much information from his subjects without imposing his own personality or beliefs on what they had to say. So many interviewers spend their time mostly expounding their own opinions, and leaving their subjects to simply agree. Herzog's too intelligent a filmmaker to do that.

I had no problem with Herzog's accent or his "active listening" technique, I've seen several of his documentaries as well as his theatrical films, the problem with this episode, most of the people were devoid of so many things...eductions, interests etc. They were basically shells of human beings.

Had Herzog tried leading their comments, I have a feeling most of the subjects would have continued to spout their incoherent gibberish. Hard drugs, a lack of education as well as having no goals....are a very lethal combination.

The problem all around....there was an intelligent human being, Herzog, interviewing illiterates who could not seem to articulate the simplest of sentences. I almost stopped watching when Herzog was interviewing the heavy set woman who claimed the "The Exorcist" film was a documentary, she was quite sure of it! Unbelievable.

[–] puirt-a-beul 9 years ago

I hear what you're saying, emo, but you can't blame them for being who they are.

Herzog's interviews show clearly the world his subjects come from, and make the unspoken comment of how present a lack of education and lack of awareness is among death row inmates. You don't find many white-collar people on death row.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] emo_ville2002 9 years ago

You don't find many white-collar people on death row

Actually there are many white collar professionals, as well as educated people in other fields, who are now in prisons serving life sentences.

I used to watch way too much ID TV, many of the people committing the murders did so because of money....there were professional men and women killing their spouses, or domestic partners, basically over money.

People with advanced educations, as well as lucrative careers, have killed over money.....mostly because they lived beyond their means. Their own high salaries, as well as their partners, apparently weren't enough to sustain the lifestyles they craved. Their partners huge life insurance policies seemed to be their answer.

In these instances, the killers need for....as well as their obsession with money....drove them over the edge. Some of these people might not be on death row, but they sure are in prison for life.

Lack of awareness seems to also apply as a reason so many of these so-called 'intelligent people' ending up in prison.

[–] puirt-a-beul 9 years ago

Actually there are many white collar professionals, as well as educated people in other fields, who are now in prisons serving life sentences.

I used to watch way too much ID TV, many of the people committing the murders did so because of money....there were professional men and women killing their spouses, or domestic partners, basically over money.

Sure there are. Of course. But as a proportion of their demographic, they're way underrepresented. (I left out an "as". "You don't find as many ..." But I suspect you knew that's what I meant, if you'd thought for a moment.)

Blue-collar people, and non-whites in general, have a proportion of their demographics in prison generally and particularly on death row that are multiple times those of the white, white-collar groups. And the blue-collars generally don't get TV shows made about them.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.