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Burden of Dreams (1982)

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Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 4.1/5
User Ratings: 2,991

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Movie Info

Documentarian Les Blank, who filmed Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe, trained his cameras on Herzog again, as the eccentric German filmmaker made his epic, Fitzcarraldo, in the Amazon rainforest of Peru. Herzog's production is in trouble right from the start. He begins filming with Jason Robards playing the title role, and Mick Jagger playing Fitzcarraldo's sidekick, Wilbur. With 40 percent of the film shot, Robards becomes ill and goes back to the states, where his doctor will not let him return.

R, 1 hr. 34 min.

Documentary, Television, Musical & Performing Arts

Michael Goodwin

May 10, 2005

Flower Films

All Critics (17) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (0) | DVD (17)

Les Blank's Burden of Dreams is one of the most remarkable documentaries ever made about the making of a movie.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The film is at once funny and, in its depiction of the scant differences between art and megalomania, somewhat frightening.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Gramophone music soothes the savage breast, and operatic human excess defines director and obsession as well as his lead character.

July 18, 2011 Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | Comment
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

O retrato extraordinário de um cineasta que, como o protagonista de seu filme, se entrega à obsessão por amor à Arte.

January 26, 2010 Comment
Cinema em Cena

Remarkably candid behind-the-scenes documentary.

August 17, 2008 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A fascinating portrait of a filmmaker pushed to the outer edge of sanity...

October 26, 2007 Full Review Source: All Movie Guide | Comment
All Movie Guide

not only captures the dramatic moments where Herzog risks life and limb ... , but he includes small details that provide necessary natural respites from Herzog's 'madness'

September 24, 2005 Full Review Source: Old School Reviews | Comment

What's provided here is indispensable for Herzog/Kinski junkies.

August 9, 2005 Full Review | Comment

Herzog here talks his way through the making of his movie with a remarkable self-consciousness, attuned to the effects of cameras on subjects even as he is such a subject.

August 3, 2005 Full Review Source: PopMatters | Comment
PopMatters

Highly worthy of your time.

June 1, 2005 Full Review Source: Now Playing Magazine | Comment

a portrait of filmmaking as potentially deadly obsession, even in the face of nearly insurmountable obstacles

May 31, 2005 Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | Comment
Q Network Film Desk

Strangely, Burden of Dreams is a better film than Fitzcarraldo, if only because you get to see the fictional portions of the film along with the backstory

May 24, 2005 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com
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Audience Reviews for Burden of Dreams

I am not fully on the Herzog train but I certainly admire his drive. And by drive, I mean his lunacy of course. I had always heard that Kinski was crazy, but just listening to Herzog's words and how he pushes on in the face of every momentous setback really showed me that Herzog may be just as mad. This film documents

September 13, 2011
axadntpron
Reid Volk

Super Reviewer

An interesting documentary about the making of one of Herzog's movies, and about him in general. If you're a fan of his you will enjoy this more than I did.

September 6, 2010
ajv2688

Super Reviewer

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