}
The Fire Within: A Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft (2022)
Werner Herzogs returns to another found-footage essay with his latest vehicle.
Just as he put Timothy Treadwell, better known as the Grizzly Man, in perspective, here he relies almost exclusively on the iconoclastic footage left behind by two volcanologists.
Following his first film about volcanoes, Into the Inferno (2010), Herzog again revels in the grandeur and mystery of the earth’s interior.
He presents the legacy of two pioneers in their field in his usual style. The timbre and heavy accent of his unmistakable voice have achieved cult status over the years and will also provide comfort in this artsy doc.
Right at the beginning we learn about the tragic fate of the two, only to put this information aside and make room for the beautiful footage we are about to see.
We embark on a journey and follow the two passionate scientists Katia and Maurice Krafft around the globe. Herzog honours their legacy with this collage diary of their explorations through the earth’s landscapes. A humanitarian portrait of an extraordinary couple.
Try to see the film in the cinema, as I was lucky enough to see it at the Sheffield Doc Fest when it comes out this year. The stunning images of molten lava cascading across the screen and the rain of ash pouring over the silvery landscapes are definitely worth a watch, all in soft 16mm.
A film for cinematography and essay afficionados alike, as we linger for extended periods in the sheer beauty of the uncommented images, which Herzog only prefaces with the words: “There’s nothing more that should be said, we can only watch in awe!”
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