Obsession and insanity
Take a break from midterms this week and enjoy some free movies on campus! A film festival featuring three of German director Werner Herzog’s films, Grizzly Man, Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Cobra Verde, is taking place in the Cultural Studies Building screening room (3475 Peel). For film buffs and regular movie lovers alike, Herzog’s films offer an unusual perspective that captures the bizarre and the mundane, often blurring the line between fiction and reality.
Werner Herzog emerged on the German New Wave scene in the 1960s and developed a reputation as quite the eccentric; this earned him considerable acclaim in the indie festival circuits. His approach to film is fairly unorthodox as he refuses to use storyboards, improvises large portions of his films, and often enlists locals as extras.
“He’s the master of capturing magical realism on film, but he doesn’t need a studio or
special effects to create it,” festival organizer Jesse Hahm explains. “He just has a knack for finding people whose obsessions verge on insanity – for example, Timothy Treadwell’s impossible dream of living harmoniously with a bunch of grizzly bears.”
Come to any or all of the films this week and experience Herzog’s unconventional style for yourself – or at least find out if Timothy makes it out of grizzly territory alive.
Grizzly Man plays Monday October 20 at 7 p.m. Aguirre, the Wrath of God plays Thursday October 23 at 7 p.m. Cobra Verde plays Friday October 24 at 7 p.m.
– Maeve Clougherty
One man’s trash is another man’s sustainable housing
Looking to put some significance into your Tuesday night? Then search no further than McGill’s new incarnation of Cinema Politica, a film forum that aims to entertain and educate the McGill community through film. Screening independent documentaries on current social and political issues, Cinema Politica’s unique selections cover a variety of controversial topics.
Their first feature, Garbage Warrior, depicts the struggles of Michael Reynolds – a zany architect intent on building a future of sustainable homes…out of garbage. Films will be shown every Tuesday at 8 p.m. starting October 21 in the Cultural Studies Building (3475 Peel, Room 101). The full screening schedule can be found at cinemapolitica.org/mcgill.
– Maia Reed