DIE GROSSE EXTASE DES BILDSCHNITZERS STEINER
Germany 1974 – Director: Werner Herzog – Original language: German – Subtitles: None – Length: 45 min.
“It was a very strong fascination of mine,” explains Werner Herzog in reference to his childhood dream of becoming a ski jump champion. During the winter he used to build jumps together with the other boys in Chiemgau and was passionate about skiing. It was only when a friend badly injured himself that his desire to soar through the skies like a bird was quashed. Then in 1973 he filmed this portrait of the Swiss world ski jump champion and wood carver, Walter Steiner. It is a film about the thrill of taking off and the fear of landing, in which Herzog himself appears as a sports reporter. “I had fantasies about it and really wanted to be able to fly, without machinery,” Herzog says of his childhood wish. Moritz Holfelder
The cutter Beate Mainka-Jellinghaus will be our guest.
Camera: Jörg Schmidt-Reitwein, Francisco Joán, Frederik Hettich, Alfred Chrosziel, Gideon Meron. Sound: Benedikt Kuby. Editing: Beate Mainka-Jellinghaus. Music: Florian Fricke (Popol Vuh). Production: Werner Herzog Film GmbH. Producer: x.
