Aguirre, the Wrath of God 4K 1972

What has the process of civilization produced? People with knowledge, full of spirit, strength and dreams, invade the unexplored, virgin nature of South America, and look like absolute savages and monsters, next to the true natives who are part of this land. The Conquista is a powerful historical rape, a cruel and brutal abuse of the true nature of which the people were a part, with their own special culture and religion. The idea of Christianity here is drowned in the noise of the mountain river, in the cries of the birds and the imitating whistles of the Indians. “The Word of God” is mute here as the natives shout ‘Meat!’ as they look at the Spaniards passing by.

“The book is silent,” says an Indian, putting his Bible to his ear. Yes, that's right - the God to whom his sons cry out, who so proudly and cynically carry his name ahead of their caravans, is silent, looking at the maddened Aguirre, who thinks himself Almighty. The laws of the Spanish crown ended where the vast green land leading to Eldorado began, and only one rule remained: the strongest man is in charge. But the jungle, invaded by uninvited guests, has its own laws - you are alive only as long as the arrow flies. Balancing on slippery timbers, intoxicated with greed, the obsessed Aguirre does not notice how humbly, without squirming, without terrible convulsions, his soldiers accept death. There is no heroism or pathos in their deaths, only calmness, as if they were going into nirvana, returning to the beginning, to the source, to nature.

Herzog's film is a complex, surrealistic canvas about a 16th century campaign, and since Bosch is considered the forerunner of surrealism in painting, the shots partly refer to his paintings. And the blood, unreal, emphasized red to be seen on dark costumes, as if from the techniques of medieval artists. A talking severed head, a horse on the river bank in a poncho, a naked negro chased by soldiers to frighten the Indians, skulls and bones next to bananas, a fat “emperor” distributing lands like pieces of cake, a ship in a tree, a horde of monkeys and Aguirre with crazy eyes - all this takes place against the background of mesmerizing, breathtaking, nature. And finally, the incredibly beautiful, delicate Donna Inez, in a golden dress, walking away into the wild forest, leaving this hell. A surreal dream, shown so real that the desire to wake up does not leave even when you have already realized that you are awake.

The cosmic music of Popol Vuh pours from the heavens, filling the space of green jungle, mountains and dark, murky water. Music that immerses you in mysteries. An Indian in a traditional cap, standing next to Aguirre, plays an uncomplicated melody on his whistle, and these light notes fill the madness of the “king” who is entertained by the “jester.” The theme of nature rolls across the misty slopes to the horizon, encouraging one to dream that maybe the search for fairyland will not be in vain.

The attentive camera snatches the faces and looks of the soldiers, as if chronicling those hard days. And here, you already feel the taste of maize in your mouth, the humidity of the river, the stiffness of the leaves, the breath of the llama, the smell of sweat, the fear of the elements, of the unknown. The bright lilac blouse, peeking through the slits of the leather suit, flashes before your eyes. Aguirre! I will remember his movements, his heavenly gaze and his mad anger.