into the abyss

[samsong]

can't be bothered to look passed this first page to see if there's already a thread for this.  figure someone will take care of it if there is.


trailer:

another great documentary from werner herzog, one that shows him at his most restrained, as it's mostly comprised of talking heads and almost completely devoid of his otherwise liberal interjections of poetic flourishes.  his depth of compassion and ability to remain evenhanded make for a very harrowing, humanizing experience, more a meditative contemplation than an invasive exploration of the subject of capital punishment.  this film feels errol morris-esque in his uncanny line of questioning and the way he sequences them within the film to create a coherent piece that both allows the subject matter to speak for itself while conveying a sense of its maker.  i found it to be engrossing and quite draining, definitely incredible.  i prefer cave of forgotten dreams but this is just as worth seeing.

[chere mill]

i really liked this, too. herzog knows his subject is strong enough not to rely on obvious devices that tell us how to feel at any given moment. he lets people speak for themselves and we begin to understand everyone's pov and position. a very haunting piece of work.