Au coeur des volcans: Requiem pour Katia et Maurice Krafft

I'm glad Herzog's gone back to making documentaries in the twilight of his career because his films of the 21st century have often been disappointing, while his documentaries continue to wow. His voice is a little more aged here, he's getting considerably older, but he's still got the old magic. THE FIRE WITHIN, which follows the career of a couple of ill-fated vulcanologists via their own filmed footage, is classic Herzog, looking at the darker side of mankind's place in nature. Shades of GRIZZLY MAN and others, then. The footage is astonishingly beautiful, accompanied by wonderfully chosen music and Herzog's thoughtful narration.

There is something so hypnotic for me when it comes to Werner Herzog and his creations, there is something almost animalistic, yet so sophisticated, poetic in all of his movies and documentaries. Werner's films (or book) make me leave everything I do to listen to him, to watch, learn. No different experience I had with this one tonight: so humane, gentle and poetic yet devastating film where humans and nature go in parallel with each of their steps and history. Beautiful, touching, compassionate but artistic, never pathetic - everything you would expect from this great filmmaker and creator. Highly recommendable.

Werner Herzog made this documentary not as a biography, but as a celebration and showcase of the work of a French couple famed for their pioneering photography of volcanoes, a dangerous craft that ultimately cost them their lives. It's pleasingly unpretentious: we see excerpts from their (still stunning) work alongside a little casual footage of the film-makers themselves, while Herzog gives us a quiet commentary more from the perspective of a fan than that of an expert (though of course he knows something of what he is talking about). If there's a tragic dimension (did they keep taking risks because that was what, at the end of the day, they did) Herzog doesn't dwell on it. It might sound dull and pedestrian, but the stunning images keep you attached, and draw out your admiration for those who dared to film them.

Werner Herzog is presenting a documentary about French volcanologist couple Katia and Maurice Krafft. I've never heard of this couple and suddenly they get two documentaries in short succession. Herzog has the name and the pedigree, but the other film has the Oscar nomination. It is fascinating to see them back to back and compare the two.

Herzog is using almost exclusively footage shot by the couple. I do notice the classic Mount St. Helens explosion footage. I'm sure that there are other non-Krafft footage to fill out the story. It is very compelling that Herzog tells us that they are about to die on that Japanese mountain early in the film. It's like presenting the dead body early in a murder mystery movie. Both documentaries use the couple's awe-inspiring footage, but this one does not have their voices. It is all Herzog narration as in most of his films. He's the one pontificating. Throughout the movie, I kept wanting to hear the couple voices or at least their words. This is more like a tribute spoken in a funeral and that may be the intention. I just have a better sense of the couple from the other movie. That is the main difference.

Despite some rough edits and bare bones production value, another Herzog masterpiece in the same league as Fata Morgana.

The images shot by the Krafts and their home movies of each other are breathtaking. These are stitched together masterfully by Herzog as a lasting tribute to their work and a celebration of their sense of wonder.