ROTTEN TOMATOES: Werner Herzog on Rescue Dawn: The RT Interview Comments

Werner Herzog on Rescue Dawn: The RT Interview

by Rich Cline | November 19, 2007

Summary

The controversial and almost mythological helmer tells us about his latest, starring Christian Bale and Steve Zahn. Back to Article

(1-26 of 26 posts) | Reply

arendr writes:
on Nov 19 2007 09:19 AM

Fanastic interview guys! It's nice to hear Herzog finally address the issue of Eugene DeBruin. You asked him some great questions, Rich!

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abcdefz1 writes:
on Nov 19 2007 09:51 AM

I hope Zahn gets an Oscar nomination. He was amazing in this.

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Bardego writes:
on Nov 19 2007 10:53 AM

I'm not as impressed with this interview as arendr. Herzog's explanation for Christian Bale's lack of a German accent made no sense, and his excuse for DeBruin being portrayed as a psycho is pathetic. Sure Dieter said different things to you off-camera, Herzog, I guess that's why OFFICIAL BRIEFINGS WITH DENGLER AND CORRESPONDING TESTIMONY FROM PISIDHI INDRADAT describe Eugene DeBruin as a noble and selfless leader during his time in the prison. But Dieter told YOU the real story. Well, since he tragically died of Lou Gehrig's Disease in 2001, I guess we'll never truly know.

This so-called "internet campaign" against poor Mr. Herzog (http://www.rescuedawnthetruth.com/) provides much more than just a "different perspective" and I highly reccommend you see it for those who are interested in the truth.

Werner Herzong, you should be ashamed of yourself for twisting the facts to fit your perception of what really happened, and in the process smearing the reputation of two great men who were just as heroic as Dieter was in that prison.

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arendr writes:
on Nov 19 2007 11:25 AM

I think a lot of Herzog fans know that when you watch one of his films (even his documentaries), you're not getting the literal truth. It's more of an internal, emotional truth. Unfortunately, some people feel hurt by this. But it's really just his filmmaking style. I guess a lot of people don't get this, but this is part of the reason Herzog is not a mainstream filmmaker.

I don't know what to say, because I do feel sorry for the families. But I am also very fond of the film. It is what it is. Could Herzog have made DeBruin's character more loyal? Perhaps, but the character in the film also serves to highlight the awful conditions these men lived through. I don't think anyone thinks less of Gene, because they all know he's been through a difficult ordeal.

Unfortunately some people won't be able to distinguish between the real life Gene and the character portrayed in the movie. And that's a shame.

As far as the accent goes, I personally thought Bale nailed the voice. But once again it's about building a character within the world that the film creates, not in real life. People don't seem to understand that images can lie just as much as they can tell the truth.

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paddy garcia writes:
on Nov 19 2007 12:51 PM

Werner Herzog is the greatest living filmmaker in the world today, but what really elevates his status in my mind, is that he is a true adventurer. This man has traveled to the farthest, most dangerous corners of the world and back, and somehow managed to live to tell the tale, again and again. He doesn't just make films, he literally LIVES them (alongside his cast). There are "moviemakers" then there are "filmmakers". Herzog is the latter, and a dying breed. It's a shame his work hasn't been recognized in the past by the Oscars, and other award ceremonies, and that his name isn't more well known by more casual moviegoers. He is among the greatest of filmmakers in the history of his country, and deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Murnau, Lang, and Fassbinder. I encourage anyone who hasn't seen his documentary "In the Land of Silence and Darkness" or his films "The Enigma of Kasper Hauser" and "Strozek". They are truly one of a kind, timeless, and bordering on mystical, as are several of his collaborations with Kinski (including: Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Nosferatu the Vampyre, and Fitzcarraldo).

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Now it's dark writes:
on Nov 19 2007 01:42 PM

Newsflash: Movies aren't reality.

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witherwings writes:
on Nov 19 2007 03:13 PM

This movie was incredible. Great interview too! Love the part about Christian getting ticked about the maggots. Hehe.

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Loserman writes:
on Nov 19 2007 04:51 PM

In reply to this comment (#1288584)
If you're looking for truth within a filmed dramatization, I'm afraid you're looking in the wrong place. It's the same tired argument used against films like "The Deer Hunter" or "Heaven's Gate" or any dramatization of a historical time, place, or figure.

You may disagree with the choices Herzog made-- it's debatable whether those choices achieved the ultimate dramatic goals sought-- but to harangue him for not following the "truth" to the "T" is pointless. In most cases, the subjective "truth" is not nearly as interesting as the dramatic "truth".

I trust I'm not the only one who's pointed that out to you, and certainly not going to be the last. Regardless, I wish all parties well.

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Bardego writes:
on Nov 19 2007 06:40 PM

I am well aware of the fact that Rescue Dawn is merely a film adaptation of the true events and therefore artistic liberties must be taken. If there were inaccuracies in certain events, or character interaction, or the role of Dieter in the escape, I'm fine with that. I understand that this isn't a documentary.

BUT tarnishing the memory of someone who was just as instrumental as the survivor was in the escape SIMPLY because he wasn't lucky enough to survive is inexcusable. Tell me, what purpose does making Eugene DeBruin a nutjob serve the purpose of the film? Why is it necessary to represent lies and misinformation to an already grieving family? What if you were Eugene's brother or father, would you have accepted the excuse that "it's just a movie" knowing from dozens of documented testimony that Eugene was just as heroic as Dengler? If anything, portraying Eugene and Duane accurately would have been MORE inspirational. It would have shown the resilience of people under years of tremendous pressure and torment.

But Werner Herzog didn't go that route. He decided to make just one man the hero, and why? Because he was the survivor. He lived and the others (except Pisidhi Indradat, who also detested this film) died. Wow, what a great message Herzog.

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Loserman writes:
on Nov 20 2007 08:09 AM

In reply to this comment (#1290377)
Nothing is going to change your mind or alter your opinion one way or the other on this matter. Your cup is full. Clearly you don't care for the Herzog's handling of anything in the film and that's tainted your view of Herzog, especially on a personal level. But we have a difference of opinion: you see it as tarnishing someone's memory, that someone is served up as a "nutjob". I didn't see it that way at all.

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Bardego writes:
on Nov 20 2007 09:49 AM

Well, I just hope that YOU don't have a family member go MIA during a war and then see some pretentious filmmaker depict him as Charles Manson.

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Kudos Mooney writes:
on Nov 20 2007 02:32 PM

Funny enough, Davies played Manson in another film.

But seriously, Bardego. What part of Herzog's explanation wasn't clear to you? I'll make it simple:

1. This is Dengler's movie. His point of you. He was there. You weren't. I'd trust Dengler before anybody else.

2. Herzog doesn't disagree and get all whiney about your point (unlike how you get with his). He respects how you feel, but he understands that the movie isn't about DeBruin. Nobody else is complaining about any of the other characters. People just want to make a name for themselves. Seriously. Get over it.

Herzog doesn't look for "truth" as you call it. Pay attention to him. Listen to what he has to say. THINK. Use that brain of yours. Herzog looks for the "ecstatic truth". Look at both sides equally before you start screaming like a little girl about how some nice dude who went psycho in a Loas Internment Camp is being unfairly portrayed in a film that has almost absolutely nothing to do with him personally.

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Now it's dark writes:
on Nov 20 2007 05:37 PM

In reply to this comment (#1291607)
This almost happened to me once.

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Loserman writes:
on Nov 20 2007 08:16 PM

In reply to this comment (#1291607)
Hyperbole is not your friend in this case.

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Bardego writes:
on Nov 21 2007 02:36 PM

*rolls eyes* Typical film school arguments defending the almighty art-house director against the evil families of a POW. Yeah, how dare I question your hero?

By the way, Dengler would probably be just as disgusted as I am with Rescue Dawn, since both he and Indradat describe Eugene the same way. Don't believe me? Go to www.rescuedawnthetruth.com to see actual video interviews and documents clearly showing that the events played out in Rescue Dawn were mostly bull****. So your argument that this is "Dengler's point of view" is pathetic and insulting to the man.

Geez, you guys are just as sad as Herzog. So go ahead and defend him all you want, it's easy to do it right now since he isn't smearing your reputation.

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Basilides in Alexandria writes:
on Nov 22 2007 01:56 PM

I'm so glad Rescue Dawn is coming out on DVD next week! Maybe the best film I've watched this year...

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Basilides in Alexandria writes:
on Nov 22 2007 02:00 PM

In reply to this comment (#1296241)
That's right, it's already out on DVD. Great!

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Now it's dark writes:
on Nov 23 2007 03:29 PM

In reply to this comment (#1296241)
You must be some kind of sad film student. Don't you know that every time someone buys this DVD, Charley Manson and Werner Herzog kill the puppy of an ex-POW's entire family. It's true. Google it.

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Bardego writes:
on Nov 24 2007 02:26 PM

That's not true! Werner Herzog is infallible, he can do no wrong! Whatever he puts on film is totally true, even though evidence says otherwise.

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Jaka Tavers writes:
on Nov 24 2007 04:00 PM

In reply to this comment (#1302420)
You must have missed the newsflash: Movies still aren't reality.

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Bardego writes:
on Nov 24 2007 07:11 PM

I am quite aware of that. Read my replies BEFORE posting snide comments, please.

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Jaka Tavers writes:
on Nov 24 2007 09:18 PM

In reply to this comment (#1303159)
Your powers of comprehension are limited by the heights of that soap box.

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Bardego writes:
on Nov 25 2007 02:05 PM

Ugh, go back to NYFA and spare me your pretentious nonsense.

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Now it's dark writes:
on Nov 25 2007 02:37 PM

In reply to this comment (#1303600)
Wow, you set that up perfectly.

*is impressed*

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Jaka Tavers writes:
on Nov 26 2007 01:32 PM

In reply to this comment (#1304974)
The Neocons are an easy mark.

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Bardego writes:
on Nov 27 2007 03:43 PM

Yes, especially since it's those people who actually go out and DO something with their lives instead of sit around and watch disingenuous art films all day.

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