Aguirre: The Wrath of Perry

Werner Herzog is apparently making a documentary about death row inmates in Texas:

ZDF Enterprises has picked up Werner Herzog's forthcoming docu "Gazing Into the Abyss: A Tale of Death, a Tale of Life," about death row inmates.

In the film, Herzog -- who is enjoying a hit with his docu "Cave of Forgotten Dreams," examining prehistoric paintings in Gaul's Chauvet cave -- discusses life and death with the prisoners and examines their stories and crimes, which he describes as "a gaze into the abyss of the human soul"..

Among the inmates are two men convicted of triple murder, another who killed his girlfriend and her two mentally retarded sons, and a woman, one of only 10 on Texas' death row, charged with abducting a baby and killing the child's mother.

I am ordinarily somewhat wary of foreign news crews covering capital punishment in the U.S. The results can be tendentious and sentimental. However, I have a lot of faith in Herzog, who continues to be capable of making brilliant films.

Comments

[onchyophaga]

At least Mr Herzog may have some insight in the issue, as he himself was offered the discreet services of the local natives taking part in the filming of Fitzcarraldo, as they witnessed the unbridled rage attacks of Klaus Kinski towards him, as can be seen in "My Best Fiend", a 1999 documentary.

Though I don't remember if this included the attempt to make it look like an accident ...

[Andrew]

I care for all my Alexanders equally! I suppose what I'm saying about Herzog is that I trust him to approach this all-too-well-explored topic from an unusual angle. After all, nobody saw 'Grizzly Man' coming...

[Alexander (the one you don't care much for)]

Andrew, I hope your faith in Mr. Herzog is not in vain. Please make sure you review his work to make sure he is not subliminally including any un-Christian messages, such as killing other people is not a good thing regardless of the circumstances. I fear he may be biased.

[Alex (the other one)]

I believe in Herzog too ;)