To add further proof into how wild director Werner Herzog truly was in his prime, one of his shortest documentaries La Soufriere has gone down as an insanely fascinating examination on Guadeloupe being affected by an impending volcanic eruption. Despite barely clocking in at 30 minutes, the film has remained highly regarded for its brazen ambition and deep look into the lives of people in an otherwise unknown area. While this would not end up being the last documentary Herzog made focusing on volcanoes, it is certainly one that gets brought up in conversation to the umpth degree.
Now as Herzog narrates the film itself, he is able to provide his own reasoning for visiting Guadeloupe in the first place. The primary reason is that while the entire island had been evacuated, at least one peasant refused to leave, thus prompting Herzog and his crew to go down to the place and interview the man in question. Alongside roaming the deserted streets of the island's towns, the crew end up facing hazardous effects like sulfurous steam from the mountains, which are nonetheless captured beautifully with enough time to let viewers take in the waste of vast beautiful nature. As for the remaining few people left on the island, one is awaiting death and another only does so to look after some animals. Without disagreeing with either men to the point of causing hysteria, Herzog and his crew allow each subject to express their connection with death and the afterlife, something that might not have been tackled in documentaries at that point in time. Add on how they feel content in their current homes and there is just enough to take away from these men in just half an hour.
With all of this said, the volcano ultimately did not erupt, but its presence clearly left such a significant impact on Guadeloupe. Although only shown briefly, the occasional scenes that showcase the deserted towns and jungles across the island are frightening to say the least. When one takes into account how few people were left on the island, especially without knowing if the volcano would truly erupt or not, the idea that anyone left would have their lives spared can best be described as an unexpected miracle. Herzog has often gone down in the history books as one of the wildest filmmakers out there, but he may have never lived to tell any of his crazy tales had it not been for the island not being harmed at all. Most people wouldn't even dream of taking the risks that Herzog and his crew dared to go on, whether it be shooting a documentary in a remote island or something else. It just goes to show you how much respect Herzog has earned in the long run, regardless of whatever the subject in his resume may be.
Now as Herzog narrates the film itself, he is able to provide his own reasoning for visiting Guadeloupe in the first place. The primary reason is that while the entire island had been evacuated, at least one peasant refused to leave, thus prompting Herzog and his crew to go down to the place and interview the man in question. Alongside roaming the deserted streets of the island's towns, the crew end up facing hazardous effects like sulfurous steam from the mountains, which are nonetheless captured beautifully with enough time to let viewers take in the waste of vast beautiful nature. As for the remaining few people left on the island, one is awaiting death and another only does so to look after some animals. Without disagreeing with either men to the point of causing hysteria, Herzog and his crew allow each subject to express their connection with death and the afterlife, something that might not have been tackled in documentaries at that point in time. Add on how they feel content in their current homes and there is just enough to take away from these men in just half an hour.
With all of this said, the volcano ultimately did not erupt, but its presence clearly left such a significant impact on Guadeloupe. Although only shown briefly, the occasional scenes that showcase the deserted towns and jungles across the island are frightening to say the least. When one takes into account how few people were left on the island, especially without knowing if the volcano would truly erupt or not, the idea that anyone left would have their lives spared can best be described as an unexpected miracle. Herzog has often gone down in the history books as one of the wildest filmmakers out there, but he may have never lived to tell any of his crazy tales had it not been for the island not being harmed at all. Most people wouldn't even dream of taking the risks that Herzog and his crew dared to go on, whether it be shooting a documentary in a remote island or something else. It just goes to show you how much respect Herzog has earned in the long run, regardless of whatever the subject in his resume may be.