I've just been sent
Werner Herzog's long time coming to
Blu-Ray and DVD (it played around festivals two years ago) Antarctica documentary
Encounters at the End of the World and I couldn't be more excited to jump in, and make it my choice of viewing for tonight. Shot in between Herzog's two features
Rescue Dawn and the upcoming
Bad Lieutenant, Herzog traveled to the coldest and most haunting place on Earth by invitation of the National Science Foundation to study the inhabitants of the continent, both human and animal. The people he encountered
according to Roger Ebert, were
"men and women in this god-forsaken place to extend their knowledge of the planet and of the mysteries of life and death itself". This is so much more than a documentary about Antarctica penguins! The trailer looks quirky. Herzog's child-like enthusiasm for exploration and infectious "I need to tell you" voice, complimented by a pure majestic visual experience make this a rare "outside of the BBC made documentary about our planet" that would seem to be essential viewing. Can't wait to pop this in my player and truly visit the End of the World. Not the one Patrick O'Brien talked about... this "end" has a double meaning. <![CDATA[ if(document.getElementById("obj1f866af11db04864bca16236377b518f")) document.getElementById("obj1f866af11db04864bca16236377b518f").setAttribute("flashvars", "file=5e941a38b5994133b8ca9798d8fba925&permalink="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)); if(document.getElementById("emb1f866af11db04864bca16236377b518f")) document.getElementById("emb1f866af11db04864bca16236377b518f").setAttribute("flashvars", "file=5e941a38b5994133b8ca9798d8fba925&permalink="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)); ]]>
Encounters at the End of the World is on
2-disc special edition DVD and
Blu-Ray from 31 August 2009, or available with the fascinating docs
Grizzly Man, White Diamond, La Soufriere & Flying Doctors of East Africa as part of a 5 Disc box set.