Werner Herzog

Who is Werner Herzog?

Werner Herzog is a famous German film director, producer, actor and screenwriter. He has received international acclaim and success with his films like ‘Aguirre: The Wrath of God’, ‘Fitzcarraldo and ‘Rescue Dawn’. Apart on working on film projects, he is a well-known personality in the world of documentaries and has directed several of them, including the famous, ‘Into the Abyss’. As a child, he never grew up watching any television or never even watched a film—yet, he has become one of the most prominent directors/screenwriters in the world today, with over 50 films to his credit. Apart from acting, directing and writing for the big screen, he has also authored more than a dozen books of prose and has directed just as many operas. He was a close aide and associate of the peculiar, Klaus Kinski and has been admired as the only director to have ever been able to work with Klaus. Considered one of the greatest figures of ‘New German Cinema’, he is compared to the likes of legends such as, Wilm Wenders, Margarethe von Trotta and Rainer Werner Fassbinder. His films often display heroes with awkward dreams, bizarre talents or those who are struggling with their surroundings.

Career

In 1968, he directed his first film based on World War II titled, ‘Signs of Life’, which became a critical and commercial success. The film was later, showcased at the 18th Berlin International Film Festival and also won an important award. The next year, he made a documentary feature film, titled, ‘The Flying Doctors of East Africa’.

In 1970, he directed, ‘Even Dwarfs Started Small’, a horror-comedy-drama film, which was made on a shoe-string budget of $200,000. He also made his acting debut the next year with the film ‘Geschichten vom Kübelkind’.

In 1971, he made two documentary feature films, ‘Land of Silence and Darkness’ and ‘Handicapped Future’, both of which were critically acclaimed. The next year, he directed, ‘Fata Morgana’ and his well-acclaimed film, ‘Aguirre, The Wrath of God’.

From 1974 to 1980, he directed a number of feature films including, ‘The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser’, ‘Heart of Glass’, ‘Nosferatu the Vampyre’ and ‘Woyzeck’.

In 1982, he directed one of the greatest films of all time, ‘Fitzcarraldo’ starring one of the most difficult actors of the period, Klaus Kinski. The movie was based on the story of the baron, Carlos Fitzcarrald.

In 1987, he directed the film, ‘Cobra Verde’, based on a Bruce Chatwin novel, ‘The Viceroy of Ouidah’

Through the 1990s, he directed a number of hit films including, ‘Scream of Stone’ and ‘Lessons of Darkness’. He also made a number of documentary films including, ‘Echoes from a Somber Empire’, ‘Jag Mandir’, ‘Bells from the Deep’, ‘Gesualdo: Death for Five Voices’ and ‘My Best Friend’.

In the 1990s, he also starred in the movies such as ‘Hard to Be a God’, ‘What Dreams May Come’ and ‘Julien Donkey-Boy’. Apart from acting, he directed operas like, ‘La Donna del lago’, ‘The Flying Dutchman’ and ‘The Magic Flute’ to name a few.

In 2001, he wrote and directed the drama film, ‘Invincible’ starring Tim Roth, Anna Gourari and Max Raabe. Although the film was rated average, it became a hit due to its brilliant music soundtrack.

In 2009, he became the only filmmaker in recent history to have his two films entered in the Venice Film Festival in the same year. One was his American crime drama, ‘The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans’ and the other was ‘My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?’

In 2010, he was the chief guest of the 15th International Film Festival in Kerala, India. The same year, he completed his documentary titled, ‘Cave of Forgotten Dreams’, which was a journey to Chauvet Cave in France. The same year, another one of his documentaries, title, ‘Happy People: A year in the Taiga’, premiered at the Telluride Film Festival.

In 2011, it was announced that he would be directing a film on the life of the explorer, ‘Gertrude Bell’ with the star cast, Naomi Watts, Robert Pattinson and Jude Law.

In 2013, he replaced Watts with Nicole Kidman for the role of Getrude Bell in his movie ‘Queen of the Desert’.