“Cave of Forgotten dreams”
-Werner Herzog
The German director WERNER HERZOG is known for his epic documentation with the use of dramatic features and documentaries.”Fitzcarraldo” one of his best works is cemented in the pages of history for a decade long success at cinema halls. His newest venture "CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS" fits nicely with his style of producing a documentary focusing on research being done in the Chauvet Cave, in Southern France, home of what’s believed to be the oldest wall paintings (Herzog calls it “rock art”) in the world.
Herzog follows scientists and few researchers down into the perfectly sealed pristine cave that was cut off from the world long ago after a cliff collapsed, and was discovered in 1994. The numerous Paleolithic paintings on its walls – a white horse, a depiction of a battle between gray horses, some bison – have been perfectly preserved, and are shown here in extreme close-up, catching every detail.
But rather than just drone on about what’s down there, Herzog takes two different routes. He interviews some of the researchers, both outside the cave and in their offices, and he lets the visuals do the talking, sometimes accompanied only by dissonant classical music, both instrumental and choral. We see skulls of cave bears on the floor, and a variety of bones – none of them human – all over the place. There are paintings of extinct cave lions, a series of human palm prints, and plenty of sparkly, crystal-covered concretions reaching toward the ceiling.
Herzog's detailed and humor blended narration and Ernst Reijsenger's music made the film a WORTH WATCH. Peter Zeitlinger has done picture perfect work with his cinematographer skills. The film released in FRANCE on September 13, 2010 in UK on March 25, 2011 and in US on 29th April 2011.
The satellite rights of the film were sold to FOX HISTORY CHANNEL which aired a part of the film recently with rest been available at the official website.
By:
Nupur Bhoraskar
