Encounters at the End of the World

 

Story:

Celebrated documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog takes you on a wild and woolly journey to the South Pole, from the National Science Foundation's headquarters on Ross Island to some of Antarctica's most remote and dangerous terrain. With a keen eye for the wonders and sometimes hilarious peculiarities of this icy land's animal and human inhabitants, Herzog offers an astounding look at the world's most inhospitable landscape in this Best Documentary contender for an Academy Award (NetFlix).

Review:

Werner Herzog is usually an enigma for me.  Some of his movies I love and others I think are a little inflated in the eyes of critics.  He is certainly a premier director in terms of framing and film quality, but his films as a whole some times get lost in his ego.  Unfortunately for the Academy Nominated documentary Encounters at the End of the World, this is one of those black-hole-of-ego scenarios.  Though having all the quality parts needed for a great film, Herzog puts himelf first and the film suffers greatly because of it.    

Don’t believe me and his ego problems?  There are several examples in this one film alone.  The first thing you see (before any sound or music) is Herzog’s name I white over a black background.  The stunning visuals captured underwater are seen second.  But before you can truly sit in awe of what is seen, your attention is shattered by the director’s narration.  Trust me, the visuals are stunning and it’s unfortunate that Herzog believes he needs to break the natural sounds with either his voice or uncomfortably loud chanting music that doesn’t always fit.    

But his ego goes further.  There are a few interviews where people are detailing their personal stories or discoveries only to be drowned out by Herzog summarizing what they say.  Now, I can understand an interview running long or rambling, but guess what, it happens to every director, but it’s better to consolidate and cut down what they say then to have the narrator override them with the words “in summary.”  It’s wrong to the subject and it’s wrong to the audience.    

But his ego isn’t done yet.  Herzog repeatedly states how uninterested he originally was in making a movie set on the south pole and occassionaly pokes fun at previous documentaries (like March of the Penguins), the production companies involved in the film and even (seemingly from left field) environmentalists.  Ironically, his film only serves to uplift the people he bashes.  By ignoring the chance to follow a (using his words now) deranged penguin as it waddles alone into the unknown shows how Herzog lacks the curiosity of the crew behind March of the Penguins.  By featuring visuals eerily reminiscent of Discovery Channel’s Planet Earth, he inadvertently pays tribute to the production company that “dragged” him into the documentary.  And, by highlighting scientists wo all believe in the power and beauty of nature, he reminds audiences that even the greasy-haired tree hugger has not totally misplaced his love.    

Above all though, Herzog’s ego merely ruins a documentary that has everything you could ask for in a great film.  the great visuals, personalities and discoveries all get pushed aside for the sake of his persona.  Even Michael Moore occasionally steps back and let’s his subjects talk.  Yes, it was nominated for an Oscar, but like the countless years before, the Academy puts names before product.  If you really want to see this, I recommend trying to figure out a way to mute the narration. 

Reviewed by Matthew Abshire for Documentary Film Online on March 13, 2009

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