Yesterday evening I attended a preview screening of Werner Herzog's new 3D documentary Cave of Forgotten Dreams. It was shot in the Chauvet Cave, which was discovered at the end of the 20th century & contains pristine paleolithic cave paintings over 30,000 years old. The cave is closed to all visitors except scientists, so this film is our only way to experience its beauty & mystery. The 3D is not just a cinematic device. The walls of the cave are not flat but are instead full of swellings & recessed areas, & the cave art incorporates these contours. Herzog suggests that we find the origins of human spirituality here. And since this is a Herzog film, we get some unexpected diversions, such as a perfumer who sniffs out the cave's odors & an archaeologist, dressed in a reindeer skin, piping out a familiar tune on a prehistoric flute. The film's postscript features an albino alligator, & yet it makes complete sense.Cave of Forgotten Dreams will be screened at the San Francisco International Film Festival on Monday, April 25 & Tuesday, April 26. The screenings are in 3D, & it would be pointless to see it any other way.
§ Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Director, Werner Herzog
2 comments:
Can't wait to see this!
If you don't catch it at the festival, I'm sure it will be in general release shortly. I'd love to see it again, so I will gladly go with you!
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