Lessons of Darkness / Fata Morgana
by Werner Herzog
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Eugen Des Montagnes, James William Gledhill, Lotte Eisner, Wolfgang von Ungern-SternbergDirector: Werner Herzog
Brand: Fox
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); German (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0
Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.77:1
Running Time: 164 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-01-08
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Movie Reviews of Lessons of Darkness / Fata Morgana
Movie Review: Two of Herzog's most fascinating, strangest works....
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw Fata Morgana (the "bonus" movie here) on a double bill with Even Dwarfs Started Small at Facets Multimedia. They were both 16mm prints, and while I adored Dwarfs (and still do), I actually feel asleep during Fata Morgana. Now, having watched it again, it is one of Herzog's strangest films and arguably one of the strangest films ever made. Herzog shot a ton of footage in North Africa, brought it back to Germany, then added a strange narration reminiscent of the Mayan creation myths (with Popol Vul music and a touch of Leonard Cohen). The film cannot be honestly described, only experienced. The footage and terrain are absolutely fascinating to look at (even if there was no sound, it would still be fascating), and it's a testament to Herzog's genius that he made one of his most fascinating, surreal, and mystical films ever.
Lessons of Darkness is an astounding documentary, one of Herzog's best docs. It consists of mostly helicopter shots of the awe inspiring (and environmentally disasterous) oil fires set by the fleeing Iraqi army after the first Gulf War. Herzog wisely avoids the politics of the war and gets at something deeper with this film. Set to Wagner music, the shots of the oil fires say more about the war and man than probably all the CNN reporting ever did. The film runs a mere hour, but still manages to say more than films do today.
This is one of Anchor Bay's best DVD's. You get two films for the price of one. There's a great commentary on Fata Morgana, as well as absolutely fascinating production notes about Herzog and Fata itself.
Summary of Lessons of Darkness / Fata Morgana
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