‘That man is a head taller than me. That may change...’
Every now and then, a film comes along in which the story of the film’s production is at least as interesting as the film itself. Aguirre, the Wrath of God written and directed by the inimitable Werner Herzog is one such film. Klaus Kinski, the drug-addled and maniacal star of the film, blew an extra’s finger off during filming after randomly firing shots off into the jungle. Indeed, at one point, the only way that Herzog could persuade Kinski to reign in his performance was to threaten to shoot him and then shoot himself. Disney, this ain’t…
In the 16th century, a ruthless and menacing Aguirre (Kinski) leads a Spanish expedition in search of the legendary city of El Dorado. On the way, they will encounter madness, murder and mayhem.
Filmed on location deep in the Peruvian jungle, the lack of budget meant that there was no money for trifling matters such as stunt doubles or safety measures and so the whole film has an undercurrent of danger and jeopardy. Herzog features numerous shots of wild animals that only extenuate the sense that this is more documentary than a feature film, and many of the cast appear to be genuinely haunted by the experience of making the damn thing. For all the wild stories that define Aguirre, it has to be said that Kinski is excellent in a threatening and wide-eyed performance, and there is plenty in front of the camera to match the bombast and insanity that was happening behind it.
People will often say of classic movies that you could never make something like that today. Well, Aguirre, the Wrath of God should probably never have been made in any age, but the fever dream that is the finished film is such a unique cinematic experience that any suffering caused by the production was undoubtedly worth it. A bizarre classic.