BBC HARDtalk - Werner Herzog - Film Director (20/1/15)

Draw up a list of the greatest living film makers and Werner Herzog would surely occupy a prominent place. He is reponsible for some of the most wildly beautiful images captured on film. If you've seen Fitzcarraldo you won't have forgotten the steamship being hauled over a mountain. He's seen as the film industry's obsessive genius; the director who once threatened to shoot his lead actor to prevent him quitting. After five decades making movies is Werner Herzog's love of film as intense as ever?
Credits
Interviewed Guests - Werner Herzog Stipetić
Interviewer - Stephen Sackur
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b051rd39

[@CameronS437]

Hahaha whenever anyone asks Werner for advice. "Read, read, read, read, read,..." He really cannot emphasize it enough. Great man, long live his work.

[@guileniam]

+Jacques Stephen Werner: Then of course, read read read read read read read read read....... Interviewer: Mr. Herzog? Werner: Read read read read read read read read read read..... Interviewer: Mr. Herzog? Werner? Are you with me? Werner: Read read read read read read read read read read read read read... Interviewer: I need some help over here!! EMT runs over EMT: Is he at it again? Werner: Read read read read read read read read read read read read read read read... Interviewer: Yeah, how often does he do this again? Herzog is still spazzing out in the background EMT: Every month or so. It's hard to tell. Weren't you told to be careful with your questioning? If you ask him anything that could potentially lead him to mentioning the importance of reading than there's a high chance of this happening! Herzog can still be heard in the background Interviewer: I'm sorry I... I was just asking for his advice... Werner: Read read read read read read read read read read read read read read read... EMT: Werner? Are you here with me? Buddy, come on. You're with us. Come on. Snap out of it, we all know that you're well-read. Werner: Read read read read read read read read read read read read read read read... EMT: Just tell me what to fucking read. Does that help? Interviewer: I think he just wants you to read in general. EMT: I know! I just... I'm running out of options. Werner: Read read read read read read read read read read read read read read read... EMT: Could I have some back up over here???!!!! Interviewer: Someone help us! Werner: (foams out mouth) Read read read read read read read read read read read read read read read.....

[@radiated_nerd182]

man, that shit killed me

[@obscureentertainment8303]

+Dizzy Blu lol

[@jacquelinebeaulieu1566]

I m not a fan , I remember seeing the boat movie ,1 hour pushing it up 1 hour going down. Ending with the classical music . Like o.k. I m not a genius .

[@schadowizationproductions6205]

Long live the guy himself too.

[@DavidKingsbury89]

Undoubtedly one of the coolest dudes of all time.

[@Vettel2011]

That's what we Germans are in general ;)

[@mortimer1976]

I wouldn’t say that, and I am German myself… But I understand the irony.

[@-theislander-5888]

LW97 the Dimustrak Bambarzissmus Master stfu, even werner hates germans he said. we are nothing special.

[@petar1008]

@@-theislander-5888 Im not German but for me Germans are the best people.

[@Molekulasti]

@@Vettel2011 Well, he's half Croatian.

[@ExtremeBogom]

Werner really does have that look of someone who is carrying a life long accumulation of experiences with him, and who has just about seen everything one can see in life.

[@jmp01a24]

ITs fun to see photos of him when he was younger. He looked much more like a explorer, very determined and focused. Same now, only as you say: he has carried a lot of experiences. More than a village.

[@nickilovesdogs8137]

I don't like it when journalists are impatient when interviewing great minds.

[@sjorshoeijmans5442]

its because they only have 25 very short minutes,

[@hankerino]

It’s called hard talk for a reason.

[@SuperBoyz2men]

There are plenty of Herzog monologues .This was a respectful,thoughtful interview .

[@melmack2003]

He doesn't know that it's about the guest, not about himself as a journalist.

[@johannesthomas5116]

If you don't interrupt Herzog, he will never stop talking.

[@zantigar]

How is it that without so much as blinking an eye, Herzog has a well thought out answer for EVERY question any interviewer asks - in fact, he always seems to know the questions before they're even asked, and his answers as well. The guy is a mental GIANT!

[@Schmidtelpunkt]

That is what happens when people put effort and meaning into their actions. It reminds me of an interview with Leonard Cohen, when the interviewer asked him about lyrics, hoping to get some nice buzzwords or some moment of silly embarrassment from that and Cohen just answered that he could ask him about the lyrics as much as he wants as he spent a lot of time coming up with them. It feels a bit like that, especially where the interviewer asks about the dangerous moments, hoping to get some juicy "I would have shot Kinski in his f*ing face" moment. And Herzog having done that for a reason, can give a much more reasonable answer.

[@bernadetteharford9743]

this man werner herzog is a brilliant man he dont need an oscar

[@carlkamuti]

It is a travesty Werner has not yet won an Oscar. He needs to be handed the lifetime achievement award and quick!

[@isaaczurich9272]

It's hard for me to believe he has ever had the academy in mind whenever he's made a movie. His films make a habit of striving away from anything conventionally American or British which is what the academy foams at the mouth over.

[@carlkamuti]

I agree with you that Werner has never really had the academy in mind but I believe he should be awarded. The man has chronicled the fringes of American life so accurately over the last 40 years that he deserves recognition.

[@Onmysheet]

The oscars are corrupt, where they ass lick the mainstream films.

[@logonazo]

Carl Kamuti Yes but, were was the one for Kubrick for instance?

[@DavidKingsbury89]

+Carl Kamuti they didn't even allow grizzly man into the running for best doc. Bastards!

[@catherineel641]

His description of the architecture of a career is epic... and true.

[@ianratliff2937]

Amazing director and actor who has an endless list of achievements. His art has made me see life and death in so many different ways. How beautiful they both are.

[@cosmicmauve]

"The movie...wouldn't have been made without "massive forgery" he says in all seriousness, then goes on to justify why it was needed. He really has a way of capturing your attention. Love him.

[@gnalkhere]

This man makes urban myths surrounding him sound cooler than they already are told

[@StephanLinkD]

Honesty is part of the divine energy.. is one ingredient of timelessness.. is part of the meaning of life... is a rare human quality... is rarely found in the film-biz. Werner Herzog is a role model for all modern 2-legs

[@y0lks]

this man gives me life

[@cameronsmith8242]

The eccentricity of true genius

[@ponk2k]

I love this man. No shame in it whatsoever

[@joelpetersen2480]

One of the best director and filmaker of all times.

[@Ben_Mdws]

This guy is an absolute legend.

[@kd47730]

He deserves the Oscar for Into the Abyss period!

[@oscargustaverejlander.]

He was wearing this very same suit when he taught me a year prior at his film school 😂

[@joeymarliniv2158]

I respect Werner Herzog.

[@blackphillip63]

This is the most mature conversation I've ever seen.

[@DamianL]

Thanks so much for posting this! X

[@stevecox7075]

A truly great artist.

[@PatrickSchabus]

"The European Union is the largest, the biggest practiced peace project that this history of this world has ever seen. Period! Celebrate it. Celebrate it" Werner Herzog

[@bokehintheussr5033]

"have you mellowed with age as a filmaker?" If he'd actually seen Herzogs films he would know that's a stupid question.

[@scipioafricanus5871]

Of course Mr Herzog hasn't mellowed with age because he has less time to realize all his many projects.

[@TheStockwell]

Herzog was very humane in never once asking, "You have no idea who am, do you?"

[@alienrs5655]

I have this urge to tell a story. I often go time out of reality and into the other wordly realm. I have vivid vision of that world. Things we cant express, conceptualize and visualize in this reality sometimes finds a physical form that I can hold onto at least for a few minutes in my mind. That is what I really enjoy doing. Many years Ive harboured this thought thats impossible for me to become a director. It was beyond me. But as the years progresses this urge becoming so strong that I can hardly push it away any longer. Should I roll up my sleeves now ? maybe.....

[@lazyeye1701]

Come on man! Tell a story

[@mikiroony]

"Interviewing is a complicated profession. Wouldn't you aggree?"

[@williamrobinson7435]

The subtitles on this are something. We have such gems as "vana hat-sort"..

[@carlosmorgado7518]

This guy is the Salvador Dali of cinema! What a genius

[@marknewbold2583]

Dali was fraud

[@ethnicmusiclover]

This is strange that I am watching this, one of the greatest filmakers because of The passing of Oliver Sacks Yesterday. I loved both of them and many times heard them on Fresh Air on NPR. I, for some reason always had the problem of thinking they both sounded so similar which is funny in a way. After watching an interview with Oliver Sacks I just had to watch this. No matter, it is a privilege watching both of them.

[@theswisstheswiss8589]

Pure gold

[@clarachristopher2705]

interviewer keeps interrupting Werner so obnoxious.

[@schauplatz2778]

Clara Christopher yeah :/

[@melmack2003]

Yes, he was unprofessional. Was he afraid he wouldn't remember his next question...or just rude? Herzog should have told him to stop interrupting.

[@hallaja8338]

To be fair Werner did too 😂

[@melmack2003]

@@hallaja8338 But Werner was the guest.

[@bolso66]

BBC and British top of conceit

[@user-pb2kg1ng4g]

'It's ok to break the rules, as long as it creates value'

[@MahabubMithun]

this guy is unbelievably insane!

[@33thdegreescottishrite16]

Herzog has made his way to tell documentaries... Gut choice!

[@jude999]

Great questions.

[@33thdegreescottishrite16]

Well done host!

[@sauron7049]

Genius...Herzog is pure genius.

[@Claytone-Records]

For funding: “Work as a bouncer in a sex club” for life & poetry: “Read, read, read, read, read...”. Right on, right on!

[@siegfriedschulze5163]

Looking forward to read his books....

[@gsrindia1]

Great Man...

[@FernandoHatsumura]

The only man in the world who has put a steamboat on the top of a mountain in the middle of the Amazon jungle.

[@QoS230]

Was anyone else thinking of the Brass Eye whilst watching this?

[@sopranosenjoyer]

Reece Morris-jones I’m extremely glad someone else got those vibes hahaha

[@PoletBally]

10:25 - That IS funny. What a lovely story.

[@cinnamon4605]

He beats every interviewer ever!

[@markcarey67]

One of the most brilliant and sanest madmen this species has produced. He is in a category with Dali, Jodorowsky, Tarkovsky and few others.

[@panzerKO]

did any one else come across an ad of Werner before the video about Werner?

[@narainkut]

Truly a genius and a great mind

[@m18tankdestroyer43]

Klaus K, what an actor! Always on the edge of insanity!

[@wolfheadedconjuror]

Legend.

[@tomwh1993]

Is this hardtalk segment still a thing? It's so much like something from Brass Eye I can't handle it

[@Art_Shep]

hardtalk is such a hilarious show. so dramatic, so wild

[@hazelwray5307]

"I was shot at"..."and then asked, where's your shooting permit"

[@randykarnell9980]

Werner on the decision to amputate and with a chainsaw. @ 8:05. My jaw's dropped so many times in the study of Werner? I finally just gave up on it. Am watching this slack-jawed. "We don't have time to get him to the hospital - we'll have to use the chainsaw ourselves..." ... Um, okay - go for it. "WHAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?" ... ...

[@cbrown8814]

Werner, please please please... if you're still alive when I die, PLEASE orate my funeral... and make sure someone films the gallery... no script, just do your thing... it would be a commercial for Master Card... priceless!

[@armaanid]

I came here from V for Varoufakis! :P

[@BarkofthePheonix]

Same :D

[@orkhanahmadov9963]

same lol :))) to hear his accent

[@schanninla1973]

Germans are best :D

[@remopkr198]

His voice

[@HandleGF]

As a spoofer, Herzog is a genius. The BBC is his perfect foil

[@Machinedead]

interviewer forgot to ask about Werner's bad guy role from Jack Reacher :(

[@machtrebel]

Uter: I feel like I'm in Fitzcarraldo. Nelson: That movie was flawed

[@embryoroom]

That was hard

[@lsb2623]

In the Fallout 3 movie, he could play Doctor Stanislaus Braun in the scene where you get the GECK information. It would of course start in Tranquility Lane, but I would have the ending dialog happen outside of the pods... and then your Dad kills him in a morally grey move to add impact to the scene.

[@frflinstone]

One of the few truly honest men left in the world, a true artist

[@HandleGF]

😂

[@tonycairns6728]

Greatest living director, I think.

[@sellout87]

I hate these smug BBC journalists. It's like all he did for research was copy what all of these others asked and tried to put Herzog on some kind of trial for how he directed his films. Be fucking original instead of just trying to be provocative! you get paid enough.

[@traumkapitan]

true, and always the same questions, I bet Herzog told the Fitzcarraldo stories already 1 000000 times ... why not focusing on the diversity of his work

[@Machinedead]

i've heard Werner talk a lot about Aguirre and Fitzcarraldo but every time another interviewer asks him questions about those movies, I learn something new every time from Werner Herzog, I didn't knew Kinski accidentally shot a man's finger off on that boat, I also didn't knew about the camera man splicing his hand, and the worker that cut off his own foot..... It's good to ask the same thing over and over again, because the person whoneeds to answer those question will eventually find other ways to make his answers interesting

[@marianneotott3071]

He is the most beautiful human being forever! Great!, ❤️

[@Centaur81]

The older he gets - the stronger his German accent... - exceptional movie director.

[@randykarnell9980]

Astonishing writer and director... literally devoid of ego. ...

[@nemnoton]

The interviewer never follows up on what Werner says. For instance, he had a strong opinion about the EU. But then the interviewer just changed the subject. It was no conversation.

[@PK-re3lu]

Conversation would be far too high a level of 'human culture' for these media types to aspire to. Sadly! Thanks

[@guvencagil]

With efforts like these, it's no wonder that Grizzly Man is the greatest film ever made.

[@jenniferleighanne8922]

I love his Documentaries on Death Row!!!

[@jenniferleighanne8922]

+Curtis Rupp Oh really? I'll have to check it out!

[@jaysonprice459]

Into The Abyss

[@BomChickyBowWow]

When I heard Werner Herzog was doing hard BBC talk I thought it was something completely different.

[@gamegladi8or669]

😂😂

[@ZoranVranjican]

how ignorant can be the interviewer? keeps interrupting but he cannot be interrupted in his nonsense questions when Herzog is talking amazingly clear. I understand now why it is called hardtalk...

[@RolandRED]

@@tinotrivino The Interviewer with the clearly British accent is most likely not American.

[@nicknoga564]

14:25 “Nobody deserves to die like this.” I burst out laughing at how he said it...as if it needed to be said.

[@soylentcompany5235]

He is one of the few people who have heard the real audio of Timothy Treadwell dying. I think he has a special connection because of it and thats probably why he said it

[@MrJm323]

Well, I'm not convinced by it. Treadwell hated humanity (watch Herzog's documentary) and he brought a girl out with him who also was eaten by the bears. ....So, I'm one who needs persuading that Treadwell didn't deserve his fate. His innocent, foolish girlfriend didn't deserve that fate; and Treadwell knew -- was warned by knowledgeable people, furthermore -- what his fate might be if he didn't stop screwing around with those grizzlies. RIP Amie Huguenard.

[@cameronsmith8242]

'Yeah someone cut his own foot off with a chainsaw but nobody was decapitated'

[@hagerstephen3899]

This interviewer... geez. Is anyone here to listen to him talk? An undergrad course on interviewing would do wonders for his career.

[@770yd1n5pac3]

I haven't even finished watching I already think the 'host' is an absolute whopper!

[@dorian4404]

19:50 AND LOTS OF BAAAARS

[@captkool4336]

Work and read... I guess I'm not doing a movie any time soon.

[@lunhil12]

When Mr. Herzog makes a film EVERYONE wants to see it. That says it all.

[@mywhitebicycle869]

READ READ READ READ READ READ READ forever

[@samuelsamenstrang6069]

there is no director like him. maybe david lynch. but i stll think, werner herzog is the greatest director alive.

[@LoganCharlesII]

22:27 "You have not won an Oscar for your directing. Does that rankle with you?"

[@nopainnogain6593]

I always think of boondocks when I hear this guy speak. so lustig lol

[@LoganCharlesII]

0:15 "Werner Herzog is responsible for some of the most wildly beautiful images captured on celluloid."

[@bezuglich]

Hardtalk - not even a word - has always only ever been about hacks interrupting people.

[@sidework1]

Based as fuck

[@fourtoes412]

Why does Sackur continually interrupt?

[@dieterdodel835]

because he belongs to the disgusting generation who learned this behavior in some juornalist school.

[@marknewbold2583]

Watch his interview with Glenn Greenwald

[@fourtoes412]

@@marknewbold2583 Just watched it, hats off to Glenn Greenwald, he does not take prisoners. Thanks for the pointer.

[@edmund184]

2:45 of walking in ice ............that is worth reading

[@petar1008]

"Funny thing is both of us simultaneously plotted to murder each other.... " : )

[@Arjetube]

what the... the chopped off leg story by chainsaw... I would have suggested Klaus Kinski to do this xD

[@bearcb]

Love how he lists the Warren report as a piece of fiction😆😆😆

[@Puffball-ll1ly]

Haha not many people spotted that well done

[@TheWizard-yo8uv]

Blaming Werner for a snake biting someone ? Come on! He can’t ask the jungle to stop being wild for a film day 🙄

[@DieMenschMaschine85]

Good interview. Interviewer seems genuinely curious for the answers.

[@Warp75]

Total geezer

[@samuelburleigh1895]

The truly brilliant don't win Oscars.

[@thevideographer3991]

That voice though

[@tobyb1018]

Must be boring being asked about the same things, the same myths etc, for decade after decade, as a viewer I find it boring for yet another interviewer to mention and fixate on fitzcaraldo and lays kinski and those stories, but Herzog seems fine about answering them-a very patient thoughtful and interesting man

[@tobyb1018]

Klaus, not "lays". Damn autocorrect...

[@Machinedead]

he was prepared for those questions, he still is....

[@truthlivingetc88]

Herzog doesn't do boredom Monsieur Theorist

[@nickilovesdogs8137]

How in the world can I contact Werner Herzog? I need to talk to him. Can someone give me one of his contact pages?

[@stevecox7075]

Nicki LovesDogs : Why the hell do you think this great man would ever want to talk to you?

[@samuelsamenstrang6069]

make him president of the world, and we will be living in a paradise.