Grizzly Man

And now for a positive post after a couple of negative ones--here is a very strong film recommendation.

How fortunate the raw footage of Timothy Treadwell, who lived a dozen summers with wild bears, fell into the hands of the great filmmaker Werner Herzog. This DVD is worth buying or renting for the beautiful video Treadwell shot in Alaska and the masterful way Herzog organizes this documentary.

Even better is the non-objective way Herzog inserts himself into the film. For example, he listens on headphones to the mauling death of Treadwell and his girlfriend while Timothy's best friend watches Herzog's face--she will not listen to the tape. It's a highly emotional moment. For all the vapid "bear-hugger" motives on display in this film, especially by the misguided Treadwell, the 3 minutes of unadorned footage following the death audiotape, where two bears fight over a mate, is brutally intense and underscores the film's point that these are 100% wild animals and that humans should keep their distance.

Accompanying the DVD is a 50-minute feature showing Richard Thompson and other musicians in the studio for two days recording the soundtrack. It's a worthy film in its own right and not just filler. It's one of those cool moments in art where two geniuses, Herzog and Thompson, combine forces and we see a little light shed on them and their creative juices.