RENTAL REVIEW: Fitzcarraldo
© A.J. Malouin 2009
(Rating: 4 by The Film Snob.)
(See our side-bar page “How Caryl & Al and The Film Snob Rate Movies”)
(1982/Peru/West Germany. Directed by Werner Herzog.)
On November the 11th (2009 Gregorian) Donna & Steve Invited us to a Screening of this month’s film, “Fitzcarraldo,” which was to be discussed at during the monthly meeting of “Al’s Movies @ Gayle’s Chocolates” on November the 18th.
Our hosts Donna & Steve provided chairs and the screening apparatus. Attendees provided liquid and solid refreshments.
“Fitzcarraldo” — chosen for our group by Steve — was an excellent choice for our discussion group.
Directed by Werner Herzog and starring his long-time mule/star Klaus Kinski, “Fitzcarraldo” deals with the theme of Mankind trying to tame, push back, overwhelm the forces of Nature. Herzog seems mesmerized by fetid fertility of Nature, as Personified by the Amazon and the Peruvian jungle.
Man’s uselessness in the face of sooooo many tepid other forms of life makes it clear that for Man to leave the “civility” of London, Paris, or NYC for survival inside these lush jungles where Nature rules totally and dis-interestedly is — well — Madness.
Klaus Kinski is just the manactor to portray this madness.
Specifically? In our film under discussion, a European named “Fitzcarraldo” by the Indians, is determined to build a European opera house in the mist [pun intended!] of the Peruvian jungle.
In order to build his opera house, he must finance it by, first of all, becoming an incredibly rich rubber baron. No problem, as many have already preceded him.
The location of the rubber plantation “Fitzcarraldo” is going to “farm,” however, lies in a remote part of the remote Peruvian jungle.
The location can be reached by two rivers which *almost* touch each other.
Dragging rubber to market from this location requires Some Doing.
The solution?!?? Drag a small steamship over a small mountain, using the help of hundreds of Natives and using the mad energy that only Fitzcarraldo/Kinski can bring to the operation.
“Fitzcarraldo” is a stunning, legendary, and Essential film. No one should miss seeing it!!! You can view the “Fitzcarraldo” trailer at < http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2678522137 >
When you’re done watching it, be sure to click on the trailer just to the right of it for “Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes” [“Aguirre; The Wrath of God”]
Made in 1972, which is 12 years earlier than “Fitzcarraldo,” “Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes” deals with the same themes, and is, in many many ways, even more visually stunning than ‘Fitzcarraldo.”
“Fitzcarraldo” is sometimes slow-moving, but this slow-motion seems to be a reflection of the jungle’s heat and humidity and of the river’s slow-moving non-interest in Mankind.
At the heart of the film is Fitzcarraldo’s goal of dragging a 340-ton steamship over a small mountain that separates two rivers. In addition to the physical engineering required to accomplish this, there is the back-story.
Writer/Director Herzog insisted on filming this event “for real,” that is, actually dragging the steamship over the mountain — without the use of special effects.
In essence, the director become as obsessed by the project as his character Fitzcarraldo was. The oozing mud, thick jungle, and steep incline of the mountain become true obstacles to getting the film made.
This is Joseph Conrad’s THE HEART OF DARKNESS, done before Francis Ford Coppola reprised it with “Apocalypse Now.”
Fitzcarraldo raises money from his friend/lover Molly, owner of a high-class bordello that services the region’s rubber barons.
With his Molly-money he buys both a huge tract of uncharted rubber-tree jungle and a steamship which he refurbishes.
The steamship heads up the Amazon, and then up one of its tributaries, into The Unknown.
The ship stops at a missionary output, where the adventurers are warned of the Shrunken Heads of those who preceded them.
The steamship stops at the remains of The Trans-Andes Railway, an earlier of Fitzcarraldo’s failures.
The steamship continues upstream. The sound of ominous jungle drums that we’ve heard in a billion films before remind us that the crew “foresees terrible danger,”(1) but they go there just the same.
The crew abandons ship, and Fitzcarraldo continues, nevertheless.
Indians block his return and board his steamship. Believing perhaps him to be the white god whom they have been expecting, the Indians form an alliance with Fitzcarraldo.
With these new-found allies, Fitzcarraldo moves forward toward his goal. That the Indians’ goal is something different than Fitzcarraldo’s is only adds grist to the mill.
In the end, Fitzcarraldo achieves his monumental dream, more or less. Documenting that achievement has given us a film that’s absorbing to watch
(2 hr 38. Not rated in the USA. In English. With Klaus Kinski as Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald, whom the Natives called “Fitzcarraldo,” Claudia Cardinale as Molly, José Lewgoy as Don Aquilino, Miguel Ángel Fuentes as Cholo, Paul Hittscher as The Captain (Orinoco Paul,) Huerequeque Enrique Bohorquez as Huerequeque, the cook,) Grande Otelo as The Station Master, Peter Berlina as the Opera Manager, David Pérez Espinosa as the Chief of the Campa Indians, Milton Nascimento as the Blackman at the Opera House, Ruy Polanah as a rubber baron, Salvador Godíneaz as the old missionary, Dieter Milz as the young missionary, William Rose as the Notary Public, and a host of other praise-worthy contributions, as well.)
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RESOURCES & RELATED…
1. “Burden of Dreams,” a stunning documentary by Les Blank, whom I had the opportunity to Q&A at the Detroit Film Theatre, regarding the six-year journey of the making of “Fitzcarraldo.”
2. “Conquest of the Useless: Reflections from the Making of Fitzcarraldo,” by Werner Herzog. Ecco/HarperCollins, US$24.99. This is not so much, nor at all even, a diary of the making of the film, but is ruminations of a two-year diary and an epilogue written 20-some years later. Rent 1. to find out about the making of the film.
3. “Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes” [“Aguirre: The Wrath of God”] If you want to know what films are allllll about, rent and map out this Essential Film.
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(1.) Lyric from Steely Dan’s classic “Dirty Work.”