287 Burden of Dreams

[solaris72]

Herzog fanatic that I am (he's my favorite living director and also my hero), this is a definite must-buy. Bully for Criterion for putting out supplemental material for a DVD put out by another studio. Glad to see that Herzog participated in the commentary; his commentaries are the best I've ever heard. Werner Herzog Eats His Shoes is something I've wanted to see for a while. Kind of weird for Criterion to put out a film about a director before putting out any films by that director. Still, Herzog's participation in this disc gives me hope for Criterion putting out some Herzog in the future!

[Cinephrenic]

I'm too surprised that Herzog participated in the release by providing interviews/commentary.

[swingo]

Does the scenes of the fitzcarraldo shooting of My Best Fiend are excerpts taken from this documentary?


Axel.

[zedz]

Does the scenes of the fitzcarraldo shooting of My Best Fiend are excerpts taken from this documentary?

As I recall, hazily, yes.

I'm particularly looking forward to the deleted scenes on this: the film is so consistently strong there must have been some great material left out. I can't recall whether there was material in the film that was removed by Blank after the controversial early screening of the documentary, but maybe that's what we're talking about. I guess it depends on whether Criterion's descriptions distinguish between 'deleted scenes' and 'outtakes'.

The extracts from Blank and Gosling's journal in the booklet are also a major asset. This journal is well worth seeking out if you're a Herzog fan.

[Harold Gervais]

I've have not seen this since it intial release and am very excited to see Criterion putting it out there. If somebody would give me Hearts of Darkness, I'd be a really happy camper. As it stands this & Hoop Dreams are an excellent documentary one-two punch.

[dx23]

If somebody would give me Hearts of Darkness, I'd be a really happy camper. As it stands this & Hoop Dreams are an excellent documentary one-two punch.

Couldn't agree more. What I'm already liking about this release is that it includes the funny Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe. That short is just awesome as you can see how graciously Herzog pays his bet.

[King of Kong]

This would have been an ideal twofer with Fitzcarraldo, though.

Fortunately, Anchor Bay has released a more than acceptable transfer of Fitz already.

[Buttery Jeb]

Quick question: does Blank own the rights to all of his documentaries (a la Frederick Wiseman)? This is the first time I remember seeing one of his films coming out via some other distributor, and I'm wondering if we might be seeing other films by him making it into the collection.

Granted, the only other film by Blank I know of, other than "Burden of Dreams" and "Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe," is "Garlic Is As Good As Ten Mothers." Maybe an anthology of his films would work best. Any thoughts?

-BJ

[zedz]

There are dozens of great Blank films (check them out) and they can be sliced all sorts of ways: the Cajun films; the Blues According to Les Blank; the Latin music films (including the swoonsome Del Mero Corazon); the Les Blank Cookbook. Some of the more singular films are particularly wonderful: Burden of Dreams, of course; The Maestro (a delightful portrait of an outsider artist); Innocents Abroad; Gap-Toothed Women, and the inspired, bizarre Chicken Real. The unshowable A Poem Is a Naked Person is apparently the Holy Grail for the Blank generation, but I haven't had that particular pleasure.

Given the brevity of some of the films Criterion could actually do a couple of nice themed collections on double discs without having to bite the box-set bullet.

Blank's Flower Films distributes all of these, but a couple of the films are tied up in ancient embargos instigated by their subjects (Leon Russell and Ry Cooder - none of Blank's more down-home subjects seem to be quite so uptight!)

[What A Disgrace]

For a moment, I actually considered not buying this. Then I saw Herzog on the cover, and felt like slapping myself with all the barebones DVDs I've ever bought.

Looking at the specs, it lists a book, as opposed to a booklet...could this be a rather extensive booklet, such as Slackers and My Own Private Idaho, perhaps leading to a new sort of Criterion packaging (the thicker booklets have always been in digipaks for two disc sets, and this seems to be a single discer).

[zedz]

Looking at the specs, it lists a book, as opposed to a booklet...could this be a rather extensive booklet, such as Slackers and My Own Private Idaho, perhaps leading to a new sort of Criterion packaging (the thicker booklets have always been in digipaks for two disc sets, and this seems to be a single discer).

Well spotted! The original Burden of Dreams book offers plenty of possible content, so this would be easy for Criterion to deliver.

[colinr0380]

How much do you guys agree with this assessment by Derek Malcolm who placed Burden of Dreams in his Century of Cinema selection:

Fitzcarraldo, though full of notable sequences, doesn't entirely work; Blank's film, however, does. You don't have to have seen Fitzcarraldo to appreciate it. As Time Out said at the time, it takes on a crazy life of its own.

Perhaps this suggests why Criterion feel that they can release it, it might be less an adjunct than a worthwhile film in its own right. I haven't seen Fitzcarraldo yet (although I have a general idea of what happens and the ending), so I am debating about buying Burden of Dreams, not wanting to spoil the Herzog film much more (although I might strain my budget and try to get that nice Herzog/Kinski boxset that's been tempting me for a while at the same time!)

[Martha]

Perhaps this suggests why Criterion feel that they can release it, it might be less an adjunct than a worthwhile film in its own right. I haven't seen Fitzcarraldo yet (although I have a general idea of what happens and the ending), so I am debating about buying Burden of Dreams, not wanting to spoil the Herzog film much more (although I might strain my budget and try to get that nice Herzog/Kinski boxset that's been tempting me for a while at the same time!)

Burden of Dreams is much more about Herzog than it is about Fitzcarraldo. Even if you've never seen the latter and don't ever care to, Burden is well worth seeing. Granted, I'm a Herzog Whore and all, but he's one of two or three (the others being Vertov and maybe Godard) filmmakers who I would actually call a genius-- and this film is an amazing glimpse and how his mind works, and how he views the world. It's jaw-droppingly enlightening and moving.

[oldsheperd]

I've heard that this stands alone from Fitzcarraldo. I debated getting Fitz, but I passed cause as I remember I liked the film but not enough to own it. I know, blasphemy right?

[exte]

I have been waiting so long to see Burden of Dreams... I never had enough money to justify buying the R3 or R2 versions, but luckily, with the new restoration, Herzog commentary, and little book, the money will be well worth spending now. Only a couple of months more...

[rumz]

I've heard that this stands alone from Fitzcarraldo. I debated getting Fitz, but I passed cause as I remember I liked the film but not enough to own it. I know, blasphemy right?

Yep. Blasphemy. I recommend "Burden of Dreams," but it absolutely cannot work as a standalone film; it is eminently more valuable for the added context it lends "Fitzcarraldo" after you've seen it.

I suppose I'm psyched for this release (I will watch "Werner Herzog Eats his Shoe" more than anyone else on this planet) because it's Herzog's (vicarious) introduction into the Collection, but it's just a giant supplement to a much, much, much better film.

[Brian Oblivious]

I had the opportunity to hear Les Blank speak at a (projected video) screening of the Blues According to Lightnin' hopkins at a local community college last Wednesday. He was selling a large portion of his filmography on VHS and DVD, which he also does through his website. As he signed a Burden of Dreams poster for me I thanked him for going through Criterion for this release, and asked if there were more DVDs forthcoming, or if there were difficulties with rights issues holding some of them up (I was unaware of the Ry Cooder & Leon Russell embargoes). He brushed aside the issue of rights and basically said that it came down more to a question of time- how long it takes to put together a fancy Criterion-style release. He recommended his self-produced releases of DVDs like Chulas Fronteras, Roots of Rhythm and Garlic is as Good as Ten Mothers, saying the transfers were just as good, but that they lacked extras.

He had a lot of interesting things to say about the Blues According to Lightnin' Hopkins too, including the story of how, after a day of filming, Hopkins asked him to turn around and go home. Before leaving though, Blank accepted an invitation to join a card game, and though the process of losing forty dollars or so to him, he gained the guitarist's trust and was able to continue filming for several weeks.

[TedW]

I, too, lament that this won't be packaged with Fitzcarraldo, as they do make a great double-feature. But Burden of Dreams is basically the same story... and much, much better. I wonder if the fact that Herzog's movie doesn't quite work adds to the impact of Blank's... hmmm...

[DDillaman]

Yep. Blasphemy. I recommend "Burden of Dreams," but it absolutely cannot work as a standalone film; it is eminently more valuable for the added context it lends "Fitzcarraldo" after you've seen it.

I disagree completely (well, wiith the first half of your statement). I saw BURDEN OF DREAMS years before seeing FITZCARRALDO, and it worked just great.

That said, I think FITZCARRALDO is great, too, though it does take a while to get moving.

[Cinephrenic]

That said, I think FITZCARRALDO is great, too, though it does take a while to get moving.

Well Burden of Dreams wouldn't have happened without it.

[Keaton]

I wonder if the fact that Herzog's movie doesn't quite work adds to the impact of Blank's... hmmm...

This is your personal point of view, not a fact. Your taste is (thankfully) not the end of all roads, you know...

Regards,

Dennis

[TedW]

Gee, Dennis, thanks for stating the obvious. Yes, it is my opinion.

That said, it's not really a radical statement. Most people, established critics and cineastes alike, find the film to be deeply flawed. I haven't seen it in years, and so don't recall enough specifics to argue the point, but that is my dominant memory.

You are certainly entitled to think otherwise.

[Martha]

If you want to exchange your opinions on whether it's ok on not to like Fitzcarraldo, guys, please start a new thread in the Old Films section.

[Keaton]

Most people, established critics and cineastes alike, find the film to be deeply flawed.

I don't quite know what you mean by "established critics and cineastes", but as far as I know the film got and gets mixed reviews (means good and bad in the "same" amount), in germany nearly only good one's.

Regards,

Dennis

[oldsheperd]

I remember it did take a while to get moving. I think Burden is more about the insanity of Herzog. Literally towing an actual steamship is nutty. Like Hearts of Darkness, Burden is more about the hype of a film than the making of the film. Am I being obvious?