Werner Herzog confirms the extreme lengths he went to in order to afford operations on the set ofAguirre, the Wrath of God. Herzog’s 1972 jungle adventure film tells the story of a ruthless and ambitious explorer named Don Lope de Aguirre (Klaus Kinski) who leads Spain on a search for El Dorado. In addition to Kinski, the movie featured a leading cast including Ruy Guerra, Helena Rojo, Del Negro, Peter Berling, and Cecilia Rivera.ThoughAguirre, the Wrath of Godis regarded as one ofHerzog’s most important films, the on-set experience was not without its problems.
Speaking with60 Minutes, Herzog elaborates on his fraught experience on theAguirre, the Wrath of Godset. Interviewer Anderson Cooper discusses that he had heardthe director “sold [his] shoes in order to get some fish to feed the crew.“Herzog confirms this to be true, and notes that he would trade things like his “wristwatch” and “give away everything” to get things he needed for the film. The director also references how important filmmaking was to him, noting that any money he gets, he invests in his next film. Check out the full quote from Herzog below:
Anderson Cooper:I read that you sold your shoes in order to get some fish to feed the crew.
Werner Herzog:Well it’s not normally what a director has to do. It’s good to have some good boots, and you can barter it for a load of fish. Or my wristwatch, I would give away. I would give away everything.
Cooper:And it’s worth it?
Herzog:Of course. Of course it’s worth it. I get away with the loot. I have a film.
Cooper:That’s the loot though, you’re not talking about making millions and millions of dollars, the loot for you is the film.
Herzog:Yeah. And of course, I make money sometimes, and I invest it in the next film.
What This Meant For Aguirre, The Wrath Of God
Aguirre, the Wrath of Godwas notHerzog’s first feature, but it became the movie that introduced him to the world. In order to get this clout, Herzog would go to extreme lengths to make the film, whichwas shot on-location in the Peruvian rainforest on the Amazon River.With this on-location shoot came some undoubtedly difficult conditions, as the cast and crew had to use rafts for transport and climb through mountains for the shoot. The set experience was infamously challenging, testing the limits of the camera and the crew that supported them as they experienced real-life flood destruction and more.
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If these on-site conditions were not evidence enough for how much makingAguirre, the Wrath of Godmeant to Herzog,this most recent statement cements his love for the craft even more.Herzog was willing to sacrifice his own belongings to make the movie, but he was not looking for “millions and millions of dollars” as a result of his filmmaking. Instead, the “loot,” aka the big gain he sees from the process is getting to have a film at the end of it.
Our Take On Herzog’s Aguirre, the Wrath Of God Experience
Herzog’s Filmmaking Perspective Is Refreshing
Of course, Herzog may not have been entirely wise to put hisAguirre, the Wrath of Godteam in such consistently perilous and hunger-inducing situations. However, it is still inspiring to see how passionate a person like Herzog is about his work. Though he has a series of accolades to his name, looking at Herzog’s career — which extends to both narrative and documentary features — it is clear, as he references, thatHerzog is much more concerned about telling good stories than making money.In a world inundated with mindless sequels, this is a refreshing perspective on filmmaking.
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Cast
Aguirre, the Wrath of God, directed by Werner Herzog, follows a Spanish expedition led by Aguirre down the Amazon River in pursuit of the mythical city of El Dorado. As the journey progresses, the group faces significant challenges, igniting doubts about the success of their venture.
