Screening of Werner Herzog's Burden of Dreams

Our evening begins at 7pm with a 1h 35m film, Burden of Dreams.

In this film, documentary filmmaker Les Blank captures the unfolding of the astounding production of German director Werner Herzog's Fitzcarraldo, the tale of one man's strange inspiration to build an opera house deep in the Amazon jungle.

Herzog's nearly five-year production is rife with seemingly impossible odds including casting problems that arise from his stubborn refusal to use special effects to haul a 30-ton steamboat over a mountain using manpower alone.

With a resolve bordering on obsession, Herzog struggles to realize his vision, vowing to see the film completed at great cost personally and to the indigenous tribes he hires to achieve the impossible.

Discussion follows the film, and points of discussion may include the intense criticism of Herzog because of the unfortunate deaths of indigenous crew. While some perceived Herzog as a filmmaker who exploited a native population for personal gain, others have hailed his efforts as an unbelievable cinematic achievement in the face of impossible challenges.

We'll watch Burden of Dreams in preparation for the screening of Fitzcarraldo the following week, Thursday, April 21. If you have never seen this film, once you do, you will have an entirely different view of filmmaking from this prolific and intense filmmaker.

Pls join us for this documentary and I recommend signing up for the following week's screening of Fitzcarraldo. I will be posting that event shortly.