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.
|
 |
|