Werner Herzog: His Career in Posters

Even Dwarfs Started Small

Fata Morgana

“Aguirre, the Wrath of God” (dir. Werner Herzog, 1972)

“In his most powerful fiction film, Werner Herzog takes on nature and the forces of destiny with this hypnotic story set in the jungles of Peru. The film is based on a journal written by Brother Gaspar de Carvajal who, in the 16th century, was one of an army of Spaniards who accompanied Gonzalo Pizarro (half-brother of the conqueror of the Incas) on an expedition in search of the legendary city of gold, El Dorado. The film opens in 1560 when Pizarro (Alejandro Repullés), his men exhausted from their excruciating journey, decides to send a small party ahead to determine if the venture should continue. Don Pedro de Ursua (Ruy Guerra) is put in charge of the group, which includes his wife, Inez (Helena Rojo), the ambitious Don Lope de Aguirre (Klaus Kinski), Aguirre’s 15-year-old daughter Flores (Cecilia Rivera) and Brother Gaspar de Carvajal (Del Negro). The party journeys down river by raft, a treacherous undertaking, and soon tensions ensue as Aguirre vies for position and authority. Blinded by ambition and greed, Aguirre’s decisions put the entire mission and its members at risk.”