Henry Saw: Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Werner Herzog is an international treasure


Thank goodness for Mr. Herzog. Without him we never would have learned about the man who thought living among bears was a good and noble idea. We also would never know if there is such a thing as gay or insane penguins. And now, the world owes him a debt for giving us as good a look at one of the most beautiful works of art on the planet as we could ever hope to get. Herzog's new documentary is a film that everyone should see, in theaters if in any way possible, and will stick with your for weeks after you have seen it. While it is not as entertaining as his other recent documentaries (the previously referenced Grizzly Man and Encounters at the End of the World) Cave of Forgotten Dreams is an utterly engrossing experience.



"Following his previous documentary ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD, iconic director Werner Herzog once again takes us deep behind the frontier of an extraordinary place. Having gained unprecedented access through the tightest of restrictions and overcome considerable technical challenges, he has captured on film, with specially designed 3D cameras, the interior of the Chauvet Cave in southern France. This is where the world’s oldest cave paintings – hundreds in number - were discovered in 1994. In the mesmerizing CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS, he reveals to us a breathtaking subterranean world and leads us to the 32,000-year-old artworks. In that deeply moving moment of encounter, we come face to face with pristine and astonishingly realistic drawings of horses, cattle and lions, which for the briefest second come alive in the torchlight. In true Herzogian fashion, his hypnotically engaging narration weaves in wider metaphysical contemplations as we learn more about the Paleolithic art and its creators. Through his understated and gently humorous voiceover, we are invited to reflect on our primal desire to communicate and represent the world around us, evolution and our place within it, and ultimately what it means to be human." (Via Picture House Entertainment).

As someone who is thoroughly sick of 3D, I must admit that it adds a great deal to the magic of watching Cave of Forgotten Dreams. Using patient and steady pans Herzog is able to truly make us feel as though we are in the cave with him. The 3D shows how the people who painted these magnificent works used the features of the cave, the rock formations and contours, to add depth and a sense of movement to their drawings. And what amazing drawings they are. It is almost impossible to believe they were painted 30,000 years ago as some of the figures look more skillfully composed than paintings from the middle ages.



If the movie has a flaw it is only that the people Herzog interviews are not quite as interesting as his usual subjects. They are informative, and some of them have quirky stories to tell, but Herzog struggles to find any individual who can hold our attention when compared to the hypnotizing effect of viewing the cave. The movie also lacks Herzog's patented wacky and insane digressions, at least until the very end of the film, which is always one of the main reasons to seek out a Herzog documentary.

That aforementioned insane digression is a completely baffling and nonsensical coda in which Herzog brings us to a wild life conservatory not far from the Chauvet Cave. There, he shows us the albino crocodiles that live there and wonders what would happen if they ever escaped. I must admit that I have considered just what he was trying to say, and have yet to figure it out, but that is why he one of the great entertainers of our age.



See Cave of Forgotten Dreams and prepare to have your mind blown. It is not the most complete or intriguing Herzog film I've seen but it is certainly the most stunning. Just the opportunity to see the Chauvet Cave in 3D would be worth the price of admission...the fact that we get Werner Herzog guiding us through is just an added bonus.

Grade: A-

Best Scene: Yeah, I loved the albino crocodiles, but I have to say the moment where one of the scientists demands that everyone be quiet and we just see and hear the cave as they do.