Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer

Thomas von Steinaecker's 2022 documentary takes Werner Herzog's way of working as its subject. The camera follows him in his present life, with archive footage and interviews with collaborators cut in. The interest lies in the distance between the stories Herzog tells and what happened. Set anecdotes that have become legend are taken up again; the director does not correct them and the documentary does not quite confirm them either. Christian Bale, Nicole Kidman and Robert Pattinson are among those who speak. The narrative covers both the fiction and the documentary work, and Herzog's recurring views on nature and people are given in his own voice. Who it's for: those looking for an introduction to Herzog and who like portraits of directors. Who it's not for: viewers who know the films closely; the documentary repeats familiar accounts.