By I absolutely adored Cave of Forgotten Dreams. I think it’s one of Herzog’s best documentaries. On last night’s Colbert Report, Werner Herzog spoke about his filmmaking process. More specifically, he talked about his predilection to “enhance” the message of his documentaries. In the case of Cave of Forgotten Dreams, there is a coda about mutated, albino alligators. The creatures are not obviously not real, but they serve the purpose of showing a connection to the progression of life and the ancient, mysterious cave painters. It’s an interesting idea, and it’s always a pleasure to watch Herzog talk about his movies. Or anything.
If this is a concept you’re interested in, I’d recommend checking out the mockumentary Incident at Loch Ness, directed by Zak Penn. Yes, that’s the Zak Penn that wrote X-Men: The Last Stand, The Incredible Hulk, and the pre-Whedon Avengers. It’s about Penn funding a Herzog film to find the Loch Ness Monster. It’s pretty awesome and plays around with the ideas Herzog talks about.
[Via /Film]