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I recently had the opportunity to corner and question German “new wave” director Werner Herzog at the Morelia Film Festival. Herzog, who doesn’t often give interviews and is known for his prickly disposition with the media, was more than hospitable and gracious with me on this occasion as he waited patiently in the rain for his transport to a conference that he and director Barbet Schroeder would be giving that evening. Herzog has written and directed more than forty provocative and highly personal films including: Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972), The Mystery of Kaspar Hauser (1975), Nosferatu the Vampyre (1978), and Fitzcarraldo (1982). His dream project has long been to realize a film about the conquest of Mexico from the perspective of the conquered Aztecs. But he says the film, which would cost between $4 and $5 million USD to make, could only be made with the backing of a Hollywood studio. And he concluded that he would rather wait than succumb to the “viscous cycle” that is the Mecca of cinema, which would rather produce an idiotic, water-downed portrayal of true history. He is currently working on a documentary entitled “The Enigma of Loch Ness”.

Welcome to Mexico Mr. Herzog. Do you speak Spanish?
“Yes…But I must go to my conference now…”

Have you ever been to San Miguel de Allende?

“Why?”

Do you have a favorite Mexican film?

“Los Olvidados by Luis Buñuel.”

Do you have a favorite Mexican dish?

“Everything with Chavela Vargas.” [Editor’s note: Apparently, Chavela Vargas is not in fact a Mexican dish, but a Mexican performer and singer notorious for the eroticism of her performances and for her open expression of lesbian desire.]

Will you be filming in Mexico?

“I don’t know, I don’t have a project at the moment.”

What films excite you the most these days?

“Any films from Iran.”

Thank you Mr. Herzog. Godspeed.

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