Encounters with mediocre cinema - at the end of the world

During the 2006/2007 Austral Summer research season, Werner Herzog came to Antarctica under the auspices of the NSF's artists and writers program. This program is a PR tool to help the good folks back home understand what their hard-earned tax dollars are paying for. Programs such as this have helped government agencies secure funding for as long as there has been a government.

Late in the 07/08 research season, a copy of Herzog's documentary, entitled "Encounters at the End of the World" made it to McMurdo for a screening - in fact, several screenings to ensure that everyone who wanted to watch it got a chance. After having become somewhat emotionally invested in the film and its quality, I was excited to finally be able to get a chance to see it. Of course after the on-ice premier the film was the centerpiece of most mealtime conversations. It took me a while to form an opinion on the film. It's sort of like when you buy something for a lot of money and you immediately realize that it's a piece of crap - but admission to that reality is undesirable so you go on telling yourself that your purchase was sound. No, I didn't enjoy the movie.

Marsha, having gone to film school and forced to endure hours of film, was a Herzog fan and was very excited that he was coming to Antarctica. On the day he arrived she went to the building where arriving passengers first go to meet him. To paraphrase, his first comments were about the sun, the warm temperatures and the ATM. He had his mind made up about what Antarctica was after only spending a few hours there. And his film reflected that.

With preconceived notions Herzog defaulted to the M.O. for which he is famous. After all, it's never been about the place for him, and he's been to some amazing places. It's always been about people - or as he said it himself "truth in cinema". He immediately sought out the egomaniacs among us. He found a community full of Kinskies and Treadwells, people who like Herzog himself completely buy into the legend of themselves. He singled these folks out, interviewed them and in typical fashion, interjected his own opinions over theirs.

I've seen a couple of reviews for "Encounters" some seem to be a bit patronizing but this one - in the Austin Chronicle is about the most accurate and best reflects this particular film. That's to say that, like the film itself, the review really doesn't say much. It's packed with a lot of words and descriptions but really has no substance.

My opinion of "Encounters" is that it came off like the family vacation slideshows you had to endure at the neighbors house when you were young. While it was refreshing to see footage of the people behind the science rather than another penguin movie - the film was, at best, a mish mash of several different ideas, none of which really made much sense and had no relationship with any other part of the movie. There just didn't seem to be a point.

Mr. Herzog was delightful to be around and surprisingly unpretentious. He did have an overall positive impact on the McMurdo community, save those who thought him invasive. He hosted a screening of Freaks, a 1932 film made by an undereducated circus performer. He also hosted a screening of his unreleased (at the time) "Rescue Dawn" which I did think was a wonderful film.

He also found time to play a role in this masterpiece - originally shot for the 2007 McMurdo Film Festival and featuring not only Werner Herzog but also 2/3 of the crew on the other film being shot that same season - Ice People. Without further adieu - the Internet premier of Chickenman: