Werner Herzog on Languages ...

[@brendanparker3253]

*knowing how to speak french possibly saves his life* _I regret it_

[@49dwalin55]

'I should never have done it'

[@James-vt7eg]

Speaking French, not even once

[@geovannomozes7010]

You just don't do it

[@DaGleese]

I wonder was he referring to that time it saved his life, or the little quotation he made, essentially speaking some French right there in the car.

[@pravkdey]

He traded his soul that day .

[@chrisshackleton7098]

Typical Werner...."So, how many languages can you speak?" "Let me tell you about the time I was kidnapped and held at gunpoint by an armed militia."

[@garak55]

To be fair, if that had happened to me I'd also be telling everyone about it

[@maurice5402]

@@garak55 True lol, what a story

[@paulmustermann7068]

held at gunpoint by stoned trigger-happy teenagers

[@donk1890]

I live in Iraq so when I was young and in baghdad we would hear gun sounds and explosions because ISIS was targeting the capitol and one time I was literally just a few meters from a bomb that was planted to a car around 50 meters away from (not far enough) and I saw my father running towards me and yelling to run I panicked so my dad carried me to a safe distance. That was in 2013 tho

[@jasonfuqua4284]

Child Militia*

[@Abazigal]

I like that he never feels it necessary to explain why he refuses to speak French. He just assumes it's obvious.

[@SixDasher]

Nobody likes the french, and the french tend to not speak any language but their own.

[@titusflaviusvespasian5923]

Probably because he's German and any good German would refuse tpt speak French unless France is part of the German Reich again. French refuse to speak German as well, despite them speaking and understanding it well.

[@tamanwar203]

I really hope all you are joking, otherwise it would be pretty sad. I know french as a language can be hard at times, but we are obviously just like other west Europeans.

[@tamanwar203]

@anderson You did not understand my comment. I could not care less if you happen to despise the language, I was worried about people rejecting french people.

[@Meta-Drew]

From what I have gathered about people learning second languages and using them, whereas most peoples are accepting of learners and understand the difficulty of wielding a new language and are happy for you to want to learn their language, the French will take every opportunity to belittle and laugh at you for any tiny mistake you make.

[@wildpeckinpah]

I love it. Only with Herzog are phrases like, "You could only get some French out of me with a gun pointed to my head," absent of hyperbole. They come from his genuine experience. His next line is, of course, "It actually happened to me..."

[@christopherstein2024]

It should be taken with a grain of salt.

[@SpikeKastleman]

@@christopherstein2024 Why's that, Chris?

[@christopherstein2024]

@@SpikeKastleman Herzog is possibly a notorious lier. For example Walter Saxer who produced Fitzcarraldo the movie with Kinski said that most of the stories from him about Kinski are completely made up.

[@SpikeKastleman]

@@christopherstein2024 Lol. And what makes you the expert?

[@christopherstein2024]

@@SpikeKastleman Are you looking for an argument? I just explained why I think like that.

[@linajurgensen4698]

“I do understand French but I refuse to speak it“ most German comment ever.

[@checkcommentsfirst3335]

@ChunkietaAs a German studying in France, I can confirm.

[@Spongeward_Tentpants]

I dont think any respectable European from anywhere on the continent would want to be seen speaking french

[@conradorocha9558]

I loved it! Even though I cannot speak or understand French, and being a Brazilian, in still think I would say the same if I could understand French…😂

[@vidright]

bullshit

[@conradorocha9558]

@@vidright true! You are right! Always!

[@SpaceMonke99]

”So Werner, how many langauges do you speak” ”Oh not too many” *Werner proceeds to list 8 languages*

[@NealX_Gaming]

False modesty, aka humble bragging.

[@tmseh]

He speaks all of them.

[@taiqidong9841]

Just Europe.

[@Fame_Rate]

@Roach no its not

[@taiqidong9841]

@@Fame_Rate Well, it really is you know, It really is in say: Belgium (Flanders), Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, forget Finland, anyway, basically in countries with small languages. I am 55 and I always spoke 4 languages well (enough) since I was like 16. And I can have a simple conversation with Spanish and Italians in their own language and I will not die of hunger or thirst in Russia. Not sure if my tchut tchut po Ruski would help me to survive the Siberian cold though ;-)

[@MarkLatimerRussell]

“How many languages do you speak Werner?” “Only enough to fully express the depth of suffering the world has to show.”

[@jonnyhenningson1182]

Best comment.

[@tmrevenge]

You deserve more likes

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

that's all you need anyway.

[@MonsterWayne0511]

Love how he's so lost in his story, that he ends up speaking French without being at gunpoint in this very video

[@Clavix_and_Bob]

How certain can we really be that there wasn't a child soldier on the backseat?

[@jebidiahkorn]

like larry david, herzog has been a senior for most of his adult life

[@spikeitfool1]

Hilarious Susan!

[@onesixfive]

funny to think that there is any kind of serious cross over of larry david fans and werner herzog fans (i am one, clearly so are you). two very different people, clearly some parallel there

[@Deebomc]

@@onesixfive Larry/Herzog fan checking in

[@onesixfive]

@@Deebomc my man!

[@lord_insany]

he a jew as well?

[@kingzuri]

I had to say a few words in French and it saved my life... it’s my deepest regret

[@annalisavajda252]

He regrets having given the soldiers the satisfaction of terrifying him he would rather die in retrospect.

[@Bhatt_Hole]

It's difficult, almost impossible, not to consider him as a contender for the title of "the most interesting man in the world".

[@zetaconvex1987]

He's had a gun pointed at his head, but said "Pfft, I've worked with Klaus Kinski. Amateurs!"

[@robbo_96]

I like how if he could turn back time and choose between speaking French and death he'd choose death 😂

[@andersaskjrgensen5468]

wouldn't we all?

[@LeJobastre1215]

​@@andersaskjrgensen5468Nord🤮🤮

[@binkymagnus]

My God, he really is the most interesting man in the world.

[@davidglaze5223]

I didn't know he drank Dos Equis

[@PhileasLiebmann]

@@davidglaze5223 Not always…

[@perfectomprg]

This has to be the most unexpected reply to a question ever

[@Leon-zu1wp]

"How many languages do you speak?" "Not much." *immediately says he's trilingual out of the gate*

[@GastonBoykins]

To me, this is the funniest man alive.

[@gregmagnuson1547]

I read this in Werner’s voice

[@senorpepper3405]

he was awesome in his small appearance on rick and morty trying to get morty's dad to give up his schwanz😂

[@Justin_Leone]

@@senorpepper3405 I never see him fail to get a laugh :(

[@canchero724]

The greatest man alive

[@derPetunientopf]

Are you a Finn? I mean he could be the funny guy in a Finnish movie.

[@Oscar_Lasco]

It's from the mockumentary Incident at Loch Ness. Though Werner Herzog plays his own role, it's fiction. And everything he says (like everything in this movie) is to be taken with a grain of salt at best.

[@derPetunientopf]

:(

[@fernandomunozleon]

Thanks for actually saying something useful!!

[@theEarlofChip]

The number of people who don't pick up on the obvious joke is a little frightening. Certain people really are just obsessed with "strong men", even ones whose work they can't understand. It's acclaimed, and that's enough for them.

[@fastenbulbous]

He's told the same story out of character.

[@theEarlofChip]

@Chunkieta says the man obsessed with stronger men than he, who thumbs up his own comment on youtube

[@CongaLineMonkey]

"I speak a bit of Martian. Vee ver abducted into zer flying craft once, und told vee must mate with zer insect queen. It was an appalling experience, but still better than speaking French."

[@borissmalov5085]

" I had to say a few things in French... I regret it."

[@Nicolas.Vincent]

"I regret it. Shouldn't have done it." But why? 😂

[@Schmuni]

He rather had died than speak that cowardly tongue! xD I love the commitment to the joke.

[@82seno]

@@Schmuni made me think of al bundy ^^

[@Schmuni]

@Trum P.S.A. Traitor Dude he made fun of a near death experience by highlighting his (possibly not even real) hate for the french. Just accept the joke. I dont hate frenchies and i know they kick ass militarily, especially today. No worries, jebroni. Jokes over pride tho.

[@raulzaha3096]

@@Schmuni I feel like us Europeans are allowed to shittalk the French. They're our brothers. Anyone else does they're getting their arses kicked.

[@robholloway6829]

*Every Englishman Claps*

[@sdlariat]

I just can't get enough of Werner Herzog. The more I learn about him, the more I listen to him, and the more I see of his work.... the more I love the guy! And this?....... this is absolute classic!!!

[@kasperrolandpagh8162]

Whenever I see a clip of Herzog I realize that no parodies could ever come close to capturing the weirdness that is the man himself.

[@baintreachas]

this literally is a parody

[@shan4680]

The parody of Werner Herzog reviewing Trader Joe's at Hyperion and then having that parody being reviewed by the actual Werner Herzog at least comes close!

[@henriquealvim1083]

Everybody gangsta until this guy speaks french.

[@benprendergast9868]

Herzog should make an autobiographical doc

[@Sam-lm8gi]

That would be awesome, but I have a feeling he would find it a stupid and far too self-absorbed idea. Although, if someone else wanted to do it, I'm sure he would not object.

[@lumpofcoal2437]

It's called Fitzcarraldo.

[@anirudh9492]

@@lumpofcoal2437 😂😂😂

[@zogofstuff]

"to the end of the world...and a little bit further" and "the burden of dreams" are kind of like that. he would write a facinating autobiography though for sure

[@davidthompson7723]

It would have to have an ending that topped Grizzly Man and I don't think I want him going anywhere just yet.

[@liltick102]

The one idiosyncrasy Werner hides / is unaware of the transparency of is retelling stories as if he rarely recollects them - when in reality he clearly has a memory that is quick to jump to the most transient moments for social display, it’s not inearnest but he does do that, also he’s my fav person alive. God and filmic and human legend.

[@tactical_philanthropy]

He regrets it. He said he regrets that he did it. It's a regret he has.

[@FatManJackson]

What the fuck are you trying to say?

[@matthewhaywood3115]

@@FatManJackson He has regretted it.

[@FatManJackson]

@@matthewhaywood3115 He has been having regretted it

[@tactical_philanthropy]

@@FatManJackson Ha ragroot et

[@pierrelemagnifique205]

Er bereut es.

[@robbabcock_]

Werner Herzog is a living UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site!

[@DLDisme]

This man breaths poetry.

[@Arfabiscuit]

What an extraordinary life this man has led

[@scottshanahan3827]

Who would have ever guessed that the question, "How many languages do you speak?" Could take such an interesting turn.

[@tmseh]

I wouldn't be surprised if he spoke Jawa. This is the way.

[@SEDATEDSlothRecords6083]

Basa jawa ngak berat sangat

[@m.antic01]

He probably speaks huttese

[@TheMuddySea]

His Jawa is terrible. He sounds like a Wookie.

[@bluceree7312]

"I regret it" he says. 😄😄 Excellent. German sense of humor.

[@ghostintheshell21]

''das hat etwas very unpleasant'' richtig!

[@jimsmith1856]

I have never heard this man say anything boring. At least not in the last 50 years.

[@robertmier2217]

Now that’s a story I’d like to hear. Thanks, Werner, for the movies, everything, all of it.

[@thonkingintensifies9510]

He literally said “here we speak french” in french for the video must of taken a lot of courage and effort

[@jaym3566]

I'm sure he deeply regrets it.

[@turtleofpride4572]

Little effort but a piece of him died that very moment

[@cadabanban5382]

He's one hell of a persona, and a wonderful actor, between other things.

[@CitrusLimonade]

He's not humble bragging when listing eight languages after saying that he doesn't know too many, he's just aware of how many languages there are. Imagine saying that you don't know too many Pokémon and then list eight of them. That would be totally reasonable.

[@paolovallejo8022]

great analogy i guess haha

[@noromi11]

I mean if it took several years of learning and training just to learn one pokemon name and most people only knew 1 or 2 names in their whole lives, 8 would definitely be many.

[@michelenintricepsi6529]

@chubbyurma How many languages do you speak ( fluently ) ?

[@DarkAngelEU]

@chubbyurma Lmao speak for yourself, I'm European and I only speak four languages because I had to learn all of them in school.

[@SPVRINNA]

@@noromi11 If you speak one romance language, a month or two of exposure to the others would be enough for you to switch gears into that language to the point where you could say you speak it (less time if the romance language you speak is not your native tongue.) The same is true for most European languages, especially the ones he lists. One who has studied Latin/Ancient Greek would have no problem understanding the structures of most european languages. When he says "I speak X" he's probably not saying he's fluent but rather he understands most of what he hears and can get by in a conversation.

[@JacksInn]

I wonder if there's a director out there with balls big enough to tell Werner Herzog's life in a movie.

[@ricarleite]

AND reshoot the ship scene in Fitzcarraldo for real, in a movie within a movie scene.

[@johnfitzpatrick3094]

Only Werner Herzog could make that movie.

[@HamsterPants522]

@@ricarleite That would be too hard.

[@_munkykok_]

There's Munkykok

[@lmyshkin]

He fully realized it and that's the genius of this joke.

[@leonardoafonso786]

I love this man

[@eafg97]

One of the greatest that it´s still alive.

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

One of the greatest who* are* still alive.

[@Fabian_C.]

He's such a badass

[@frankcommatobe8009]

What an interesting video. I feel some sense of community with the other people whose recommendations have been curated in such a way to lead them to this video. Hello

[@wookiewhat]

Hello to you too

[@raulandrus]

Thanks algorithm - that was an interesting suggestion for once.

[@Burgerklauer]

I like how the subtitles say ‘Governor’ when he calls him Werner in the beginning 😂

[@VivaRenata]

@Deebomc Having seen one of his films (for the first time!) on TV a couple of nights ago, I thus became aware of Herzog and an admirer besides. His statement "I do understand French but I refuse to speak it" makes me an even greater admirer. I read and understand French, translate French into other languages, but will only speak that language at gunpoint, for fear of being insulted. Happy that someone as famous as Herzog had an opportunity to state this in public.

[@boneytony5041]

Oohh is that what it is. Haha

[@19Edurne]

"Insulted"?! By who? For what?

[@VivaRenata]

@@19Edurne By the native speakers of French. They are so arrogant that they will jump down your throat if you even dare to open your mouth and say something slightly wrong. I once had a transfer at the airport in Paris and wanted to buy a bottle of my favorite perfume, Madame Rochas. I assumed the "s" would be silent, but names have their own rules. The sales lady virtually hissed at me "RochaSSSSSSS!" The Italians are completely different. I am Swedish, but had to learn Italian really well because of my research specialty, the 17th-century Roman Curia. During my first 6 months in Rome as a graduate student, I really began to speak Italian. No matter how much I fumbled, they would smile and show appreciation and say "Brava!". So I got a lot better over the years and by 1989 I was already holding lectures at scholarly conferences in Italian, and writing them on my own, besides. That's what I meant!

[@19Edurne]

@@VivaRenata Yet, I bet you never mispronounced "Rochas" ever again. ;) So in the end, she was helpful and you only made that mistake once. I am French and I would have probably done the same (except for the "hissing" part) because we understand French pronounciation can be bewildering to foreigners (and native speakers too at times, rest assured) and you are just condemned to repeat your mistakes if nobody tells you anything when you make them.

[@VivaRenata]

@@19Edurne I can understand that you want to speak up for your compatriots, but there are nice ways of correcting or informing someone and there are ways that are not nice. I am Prof. emerita of history (retired a year ago) and in more than three decades of teaching university students, I have never made anyone feel stupid for lack of knowledge or giving a wrong answer. I went back to France only once after that, for a conference in Paris on queens and princesses in the Early Modern period. The conference was in French and English, so that was fine and the organizers were very professional. However, the attitude of the French has left me with such distaste for your country that even though I would have wanted to see the famous residence of Michel de Montaigne, or the city of Avignon, I have never felt like returning.

[@YuTyuberful]

This is exactly how I feel about speaking French.

[@LeJobastre1215]

Stick to making shitty videos

[@TrevorKingKwong]

@binkymagnus Whenever I see the Dos Equis commercial now, I'll be thinking of how that man is so less interesting than Werner.

[@johngrunwell6101]

Spot on. I'm stealing this.

[@TheArcher101]

I understand French but I refuse to speak it Oh my God, so many layers 😂😂

[@PanzerMold]

He is the most interesting man in the world, the depth of him is unimaginable and almost scary. *Also he would like to see the baby.*

[@ge2623]

🤣

[@iosonoguerra]

1:24. He actually speaks French here... does it mean the interviewer was pointing a gun at him?

[@MegaZeta]

Yes

[@tazmon122]

there is a very thin line between a gun and a camera. both are in a rather poetic way machines of war. there is a reason you SHOOT film.

[@iosonoguerra]

@@tazmon122 So true...

[@hellacatsFB]

Yes.

[@DarkAngelEU]

@@tazmon122 That's so old fashioned.

[@ldnkid]

Great stuff... Werner is a King.

[@jamesspackman9819]

Herzog = Duke

[@lewismingledorff6417]

One of a kind artist and human.

[@jayumble8390]

He's fucking crazy and I love him!!!!!!

[@jm6734]

France is a such a beautiful country rich with culture, architecture and food. But somehow every time I’ve met French people there always seem to be some snooty inexplicably insulted person around. I have no idea why. You can say a lot about the British but they’re jovial and have great sense of humour. Germans are also very friendly once you break the ice. The Dutch and Spanish generally relaxed and friendly. Most also seem pleased when you attempt to speak their language. Except the French 😂

[@joecobb7153]

Your not wrong as a Canadian Quebec has a history I just visited I'm young blue eyes British and other young French people liked me didn't mind English etc Middle aged ppl have me weird looks sometimes but checked me out etc It's getting better but French is Roman that's why German and English Re closer bcz they r both Germanic

[@LeJobastre1215]

You keep shitting all over us on the Internet and then expect us to be friendly

[@0DarkTime0]

I respect this man so much for his attitude towards the french.

[@mungomcgoose7664]

I took it not as a swipe at French, but his being unhappy with his competency in speaking it.

[@Warriorcats64]

With Herzog, both could be true.

[@610e]

@anderson ok anderson you don't have to comment multiple times to say that you don't like french, stop being an ass

[@DarkAngelEU]

As he tells the story, I can tell why he regrets being able to speak French. It's that moment when you understand things you prefer not to have understood, and when you are forced to say things you'd rather not. I suppose this answers why he doesn't finish the story.

[@theenlightedone4771]

O dont like frensh!

[@curiousnomadic]

At first I was laughing because I love his voice but then he told the story and my love turned to concern.

[@R005t3r]

Je peux comprendre les sentiments d'impuissance. Sie tun mir wirklich leid Herr Herzog.

[@slavvian_marine]

Absolutely love this man!

[@bekagigauri1799]

Werners incredible adventures! Amazing!

[@wernerherzog5241]

I remember this well.

[@swlabr123]

I doubt it's true, this was an outtake in a mockumentary. Could be real, but could be staged, or bs or something too. This guy is great! Really a fantastic artist and great sense of humor.

[@ximono]

Perhaps he'd say it's the ecstatic truth, not an accountant's truth :)

[@dandare1001]

Which mockumentary?

[@swlabr123]

@@dandare1001 Incident at Loch Ness Herzog played a fictional version of himself

[@ricarleite]

Werner Herzog and Steven Prince are the only REAL human beings who have ever walked the Earth. They know it all, they've seen it all, and had awesome lives that are impossible now.

[@MegaZeta]

Herzog would greatly disagree with you. The value of other human beings' experience has been his paramount concern for his entire professional life, and as much their experience now as any other time.

[@modifiedcontent]

Certainly impossible now, October 2020, under lockdown again

[@ciaronsmith4995]

Persian is an underrated language imo.

[@ximono]

Beautiful language, on par with French if you ask me

[@lachlanjames9320]

This is the same energy as that guy who keeps winning the French scrabble championships but refuses to learn the language

[@NemeanLion-]

“Even the birds were screaming”

[@szasza3273]

...same for me. I understand some French and can write it, but when I speak, nobody understands me... so I don't make a fool out of myself speaking French :)

[@kengillespie7797]

"Werner, how many languages do you speak?" "Your question is boring. I will proceed to tell you a story more interesting than your entire puny life. Oh, and fuck the French." *continues badassery*

[@calhof991]

Werner Herzog is the definition of “dad lore vs grandpa lore”

[@canadaclaret]

Priceless. J'adore le fait qu'il n'explique pas la cause de son antipathie pour parler le français. (I love the fact that he doesn't explain the cause of his antipathy for speaking French)

[@thewouldyouratherguy]

I think people don´t realize that this is humor. Maybe that´s were the reputation for germans comes from

[@overlord165]

Well he is half-Croatian so maybe that's where it's from /jk

[@jasp42]

People who think Germans aren't funny just don't get more subtle sarcasm. In the U.S and Australia if sarcasm is used it has to be really on the nose or obvious whereas I think the UK is a little more subtle with their sarcasm but the Germans are the masters of it where they just act completely serious even when they're joking. Tldr; Germans are low-key hilarious but misunderstood

[@ge2623]

This is word for word the lecture I give to my kids when they bitch at me when I take their cell phones away.

[@bobbyreed5506]

No, he's serious. He says the same thing in Herzog on Herzog (pages 27-8).

[@Mmxxaamm]

Does that book reads fucking backwards wtf

[@Vingul]

@@Mmxxaamm pages twenty-seven to twenty-eight ;-)

[@allisonandrews4719]

This is the best version of insane possible

[@HansonZhang-ri2lj]

"how many languages do you speak?" "not much"

[@HimanshuS-YT]

Why is this in my recommendation? December 2020!?😂

[@JamesKislingbury]

Oh man, look at those gas prices!

[@FromTheBiggining]

...1.89 a gallon? Not too bad

[@DonBelial]

4.40 by now

[@nomenestomen3452]

This comment aged well

[@roygfs]

People are surprised by this, but that's how it's always been in Europe. We all speak several languages!

[@chrisrus1965]

People generally speak as many languages as necessary and no more.

[@bzqp2]

I'm from Europe and I barely speak half a language

[@MrX-tm8fy]

@@bzqp2 🥇

[@bassko21]

No we don't

[@mansurbotellafraga1817]

5 drunken (and some of them stoned) child soldiers were pointing guns at me. That was really "unpleasant". Oh my...

[@dylandog1289]

Here From the Beastcast.

[@BurtonHohman]

Same

[@henryulric]

Werner Herzog filming Werner Herzog: we can make it xD

[@ChuckDickens24]

So he was basically in Blood Diamond for real

[@colbjallen8334]

Legend of a man

[@jude999]

Haha! In every way he is a man after my own heart.

[@Ash_rn08]

man is going to have to direct his own biopic no one else can do it

[@iosonoguerra]

He's bragging, a little bit

[@FirstThief]

0:51 …Imagine asking Werner how his day went

[@malbecks316]

I hope I will love something as much as Werner Herzog hates speaking French.

[@datamanmachine]

Three Childsoldiers pointing a AK on you! Werner: That was unpleasant! I feel you Werner!

[@jackbombay1423]

I can also speak 'not so many languages' but I´ve always refused to even learn french up until this last year.

[@freeblom]

He does a good Christoph Waltz impression

[@poppamies02]

Man looks The same 13 years later on mandalorian.

[@psychologicalsuccess3476]

lol one of his regrets is speaking french at gunpoint. Powerful.

[@marshallodom1388]

I hate to imagine what he endured while learning to speak French. Must have been Hell.

[@spractive1264]

what a madlad.

[@redmotherfive]

GOAT

[@nickparton5663]

"I regret it" Oh, Werner