Werner Herzog is one of my favorite directors (Wheel of Time, Encounters at the End of the World). His films have a way of drawing you into another reality through stunning visuals and long shots that allow your eyes to marinate in the beauty of whatever subject he is shooting. Cave of Forgotten Dreams is his latest creation released in September of 2010 – and it’s in 3D.
The documentary, which hits theaters this spring, focuses on the Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc Cave in France. The cave is tens of thousands of years old, and for many thousands of those years no human being knew about it. Three French explorers discovered the cave in 1994.
So, what makes this cave worthy of a 3D documentary from one of the world’s great filmmakers? For one, the cave contains amazing detailed drawings that defy explanation. See below for more of the article…..
Gizmodo explains: “The walls contain hundreds of animals—like the typical Paleolithic horses and bisons—but some of them are not supposed to be there, like lions, panthers, rhinos, and hyenas.”
Apparently, some of the paintings are of creatures that don’t exist. For example, an animal that looks like a half-woman, half-bison. Gizmodo speculates that these artistic liberties may have something to do with the copious amounts of carbon dioxide and other gases in the cave. The theory is that hallucinations in the cave were common.
To secure permission to film in what is inarguably a French national treasure, Herzog had to agree to bring just a few crew members with him and make sure everyone wore special suits and shoes the entire time so as not to disturb the find. Also, due to the high levels of carbon dioxide, Herzog and company could stay in the cave for only a few hours at a time. Safety first.
The film was inspired by a 2008 New Yorker article by Judith Thurman. Even though it’s a documentary about a cave few people could pronounce let alone find on a map, the Web searches are soaring. Online lookups for the movie have spiked over 400% during the past week. Clearly, moviegoers are excited to join Herzog on his latest adventure. No special suit or shoes required.