My Best Fiend

Werner Herzog talks about Klaus Kinski, with whom he made five films: Aguirre the Wrath of God, Nosferatu the Vampyre, Woyzeck, Fitzcarraldo and Cobra Verde. The documentary combines archive footage, visits to the locations and interviews. Eva Mattes and Claudia Cardinale are among those who speak. Herzog tells the fights himself, including the famous story about threatening to shoot Kinski during the shooting of Aguirre. He also states his deep respect for the actor's talent. It runs 95 minutes, was released on 7 October 1999 and screened at the Cannes Film Festival that year. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 80 percent. Roger Ebert gave it three stars out of four and summarised the relationship: two men who both wanted to be dominant, who created extraordinary work, while all the time each resented the other's contribution. Jonathan Rosenbaum was cooler, comparing it unfavourably with Blake Edwards's use of Peter Sellers footage. Who it is for: viewers who know the Herzog and Kinski films. Who it is not for: anyone wanting a balanced portrait. Only Herzog is telling it, and since Kinski died in 1991 the other account does not exist.