BURDEN OF DREAMS | MY BEST FIEND

Although we won't have class next week because of Thanksgiving, I would like you to watch two Herzog-focused documentaries and post in a slightly more substantial way on our blog than usual.

Les Blank's Burden of Dreams is the first doc I want you to watch. And the other one (which I showed the beginning of in class a few weeks ago) is My Best Fiend by Herzog himself. Burden of Dreams is free on Hulu with a trial subscription, and My Best Fiend is free on Shout! Factory without one. Both films can be purchased and watched on iTunes or Amazon for $2.99 as well.  

For this week's beefed-up post, please let me know what more you feel you learned about Herzog - the man, the director, the Bavarian - from watching these two documentaries. Because I would like your comments to be even more thoughtful and thorough than usual, please take time to point out certain moments from the films that support and further explain your insights. The more specific you are and the more you tell me what stood out for you - about Herzog, about his process, or really about anything in the films that caught your attention - the better.

I look forward to hearing what you thought about these works, as well as how watching them contributes to your understanding of this director and his oeuvre. And as usual, please be sure your comments show up on our blog by no later than Wednesday, December 2nd at noon!

FITZCARRALDO

That's a pretty massive film, right?

There are no particular questions I want you to address this week, just tell me what you liked (loved?) and/or didn't like. And if you want to watch all or part of it again online (kind of a travesty considering this is one film that was made to be seen on the big screen), you can do that here.

I encourage you to freestyle as much as you like. All I ask is that you be specific and go deep (by Wednesday at noon, of course). I trust you will.

GOD'S ANGRY MAN | HUIE'S LAST SERMON

We watched two short-to-mid length films in class this week - God's Angry Man and Huie's Sermon - both of which were made by Werner Herzog in 1980. The first is available in six parts on YouTube here, and the second one is also on YouTube here.

For this week's post, please tell me what you thought of one of the two films, focusing in particular on how the work thematically, aesthetically or even holistically connects to other films of Herzog's you've seen so far this semester. And feel free to let me know what you think Herzog thinks about religion based on these two short works.

Oh - and we watched Les Blanks' short film Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe, too, which I love. If you have any comments about that, feel free to include them in your post as well - by no later than noon on Wednesday of course!