Wodaabe – die Hirten der Sonne
Werner Herzog / DE, FR, 1989 / 52 min.
Since time immemorial, the Wodaabe have lived a nomadic, herding existence south of the Sahara. During a multi-day festival, the young men adorn themselves with make-up, jewellery and special robes to court the young women. Herzog shows us this "kingdom of ecstasy”.
Because white teeth and the white of the eye are part of the beauty ideal, the men rolls their eyes whilst grimacing during the ritual dances. The Wodaabe world is radically different to that of western audiences – gender roles seem reversed – however, perceptive viewers will recognise something universal: young people flirting. Herzog does not view his film as ethnography: “Wodaabe is so stylised that the audience is transported to the kingdom of ecstasy”. One way Herzog achieves this is thanks to the soundtrack that features a 1901 (!) recording of a castrato singing Ave Maria.
Images © Werner Herzog Film
This is part of
Details
Director
Werner Herzog
Production year
1989
Country
DE, FR
Original title
Wodaabe – die Hirten der Sonne
Length
52 min.
Language
German
Subtitles
ENG
Format
DCP
Part of
Werner Herzog
Eye Filmmuseum presents an exhibition and extensive film programme around the work of celebrated filmmaker Werner Herzog. With an unorthodox oeuvre of more than seventy features, documentaries and shorts, Herzog has fascinated audiences with unforgettable stories, images and characters for more than half a century. His films grant us insights into the relationship between people and the chaotic world around them, as well as into the endless indifference of nature towards human life.
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