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Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes
1972 95 min Germany 12+
★8.0
History, Adventure, Drama
Director: Werner Herzog
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
A few decades after the destruction of the Inca Empire, a Spanish expedition led by the infamous Aguirre leaves the mountains of Peru and goes down the Amazon River in search of the lost city of El Dorado. When great difficulties arise, Aguirre’s men start to wonder whether their quest will lead them to prosperity or certain death.
Budget:
$370,000
Worldwide:
$37,041
Starring
Klaus Kinski
Actor
Ruy Guerra
Actor
Helena Rojo
Actor
Awards
César Awards 1976
— Best International Feature Film
Key opinion
Werner Herzog's "Aguirre, the Wrath of God" is widely regarded as a mesmerizing, hallucinatory masterwork that captures the slow descent into madness amidst a brutal wilderness. While its deliberate pacing and hypnotic, symbolic nature alienate some viewers, most critics praise it as an authentic and intense exploration of human obsession and the limits of ambition.
| Acting | Klaus Kinski's intense, menacing portrayal of a man unraveling provides a chilling anchor for the film's descent into madness. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography brilliantly captures the imposing, unforgiving nature of the Amazonian landscape and the eerie, immersive atmosphere of the expedition. | |
| Score | The hypnotic, atmospheric score effectively enhances the film's surreal and existential tone. | |
| Pacing | The film's slow, measured tempo and focus on symbolic storytelling divide audiences: some find it a masterful, meditative experience, while others perceive it as tedious or lacking in traditional narrative drive. | |
| Originality | The film's dense, avant-garde stylistic choices are polarizing; critics either value the "authentic" artistic vision, or dismiss the symbolism as pretentious and emotionally detached. |