Friday, April 08, 2011

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

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:

Stephanie Dodaro said...

Can't wait to see this!

Axel Feldheim said...

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!