Werner Herzog Film director Date of Birth: 05.09.1942 Country: Germany

Biography of Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog is a German film director known for his unique and often extreme approach to filmmaking. Born on September 5, 1942, in Munich, Germany, Herzog's father was a native German and his mother was of Yugoslavian descent. During World War II, their home in Munich was destroyed, so the family relocated to the Bavarian village of Sachrang. Growing up surrounded by wild nature greatly influenced Herzog's worldview and left a lasting impact on his creative work.

At the age of 12, Herzog and his mother returned to Munich, where he encountered the mentally unstable actor Klaus Kinski, who would later star in many of his films. A few years later, Herzog developed a passion for cinema and immersed himself in the study of film theory. Determined to make his own film, he resorted to stealing a camera from a film school in Munich, considering it a necessary act rather than a crime.

In 1961, Herzog enrolled at the University of Munich, where he studied theater, literature, and history. As a student, he directed his first short film, "Hercules" (1962), and soon founded his own film studio with the help of his work at a steel factory. Throughout the 1960s, Herzog traveled extensively, visiting European countries, South America, and even spending a few weeks studying at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, USA. During this time, he continued to make short films, documentaries, and write screenplays, receiving the Karl-Mayer Prize for one of his scripts titled "Ghosts of Fire."

Herzog's debut feature film, "Even Dwarfs Started Small" (1970), caused a scandal in Germany but received international recognition for its allegorical portrayal of political life. The filming process was notorious, with one dwarf being hit by a car and another narrowly escaping a fire. In order to appease the dissatisfied actors, Herzog promised to jump into a cactus bush for their amusement, a promise he fulfilled.

Two years later, Herzog and Kinski embarked on a challenging journey to the Amazon rainforest, where they shot the masterpiece "Aguirre, the Wrath of God" (1972). Despite facing numerous dangers and attacks from indigenous tribes during production, the film solidified Herzog's reputation as a director willing to push the boundaries of filmmaking. His next film, "The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser" (1974), based on the true story of a man who lived in isolation for 20 years, won critical acclaim and received the FIPRESCI Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

Despite their strained relationship, Herzog continued to collaborate with Kinski on four more films, including the renowned "Fitzcarraldo" (1982), for which Herzog received the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival. However, the film faced criticism in Germany for the disregard of human lives during the perilous filming process in Peru, where several crew members lost their lives.

Following the critical reception of his subsequent artistic films, Herzog focused on making documentaries for the next decade. In 2001, he settled in Los Angeles and returned to narrative filmmaking with movies like "Rescue Dawn" (2007) and "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" (2009). Despite collaborating with Hollywood studios, Herzog maintained his tradition of extreme filmmaking, as seen in "Rescue Dawn," where he compelled actor Christian Bale to lose 25 kilograms and eat a live snake.

Herzog's last film, "My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done" (2009), received mixed reviews at the Venice Film Festival. In 2010, he served as the jury president at the Berlin International Film Festival and awarded several prizes, including one to the Russian film "How I Ended This Summer."

Throughout his life, Herzog has been married three times and has three children, all of whom have followed in his creative footsteps. His eldest son, Rudolf, is a director and producer, his daughter Hannah is a professional photographer, and his youngest son, Simon, is currently studying at Columbia University. Herzog's current spouse is Lena, an American woman he married in 1999.