Werner Herzog on the 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams' - by Scientific American
Summary
TLDRFilmmaker Werner Herzog's documentary 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams' explores the Chauvet Cave in France, which houses prehistoric artwork dating back to the last ice age. Herzog describes the experience as a time capsule, with the cave's pristine state suggesting recent activity despite the extinction of the depicted creatures like the woolly rhino and mammoth. The film, which required special permission to film due to the cave's fragility, offers a unique perspective on Paleolithic Europe and the creative process of ancient artists, with Herzog even using LED lights to recreate a sense of movement in the paintings, suggesting a prehistoric form of cinema.
Takeaways
- đ„ The script discusses Werner Herzog's documentary 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams', which explores the Chauvet Cave in France.
- đșïž The Chauvet Cave is known for its extensive prehistoric artwork dating back to the last Ice Age.
- đ°ïž The cave was discovered in 1994, and Herzog is the first to document it in film, potentially the last due to preservation concerns.
- đ« Access to the cave is highly restricted to protect it from damage, with Herzog receiving special permission for limited filming hours.
- â ïž The cave's air is toxic, and filming had to be carefully managed to avoid exposure to these gases.
- đŠ The film provides a unique view into Paleolithic Europe, featuring extinct creatures like the woolly rhino, mammoth, and cave bear.
- đš Herzog suggests that the cave paintings may be the work of many artists over thousands of years, as evidenced by different painting styles and radiocarbon dating.
- đŠ The lion paintings particularly captivated Herzog, with their intense focus and dynamic portrayal of movement.
- đŹ Herzog claims the cave walls represent a form of prehistoric cinema, with paintings depicting movement in a series of images.
- đĄ The documentary uses LED lights, the only type allowed in the cave, to recreate the effect of the paintings as they would have appeared with torchlight.
- đ 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams' premiered in US theaters on April 29th, offering a rare opportunity for the public to experience the cave virtually.
Q & A
What is the Shovive Cave known for?
-The Shovive Cave is known for its treasure trove of artwork that dates back to the last ice age.
What is the significance of Werner Herzog's documentary 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams'?
-The documentary is significant as it is the first and possibly the last to document the Shovive Cave, providing an unprecedented glimpse into Paleolithic Europe and the creatures that once lived there.
Why is the Shovive Cave considered a time capsule?
-The Shovive Cave is considered a time capsule because it has been preserved in a pristine state, giving the impression that it was just a few days ago that a cave bear walked along, despite the species being extinct for over 20,000 years.
What challenges did Herzog face while filming in the Shovive Cave?
-Herzog faced challenges such as obtaining special permission from the French government, limited access time to minimize exposure to toxic gases, and the use of only LED lights for filming.
Why was Herzog possibly the last filmmaker to document the Shovive Cave?
-The dangers of damaging the cave's delicate ecosystem, similar to what happened at the Lascaux Cave, make it unlikely that future filmmakers will be allowed to document the Shovive Cave.
What does Herzog suggest about the paintings in the Shovive Cave?
-Herzog suggests that the paintings represent a kind of prehistoric cinema, with images that hint at movement and life, possibly created by many artists over thousands of years.
How does Herzog describe the experience of being in the Shovive Cave?
-Herzog describes the experience as feeling very fresh, with the cave appearing as if it was just left a few days ago, and the sensation of hearing one's own heartbeat while holding their breath.
What modern invention did Herzog use to recreate the effect of the paintings in the Shovive Cave?
-Herzog used LED lights to recreate the effect of the paintings, moving them to cast shadows and create a sense of space and drama, as understood and utilized by the ancient painters.
What evidence suggests that the paintings in the Shovive Cave were created by multiple artists over time?
-Evidence such as radiocarbon dating and the overlaying of paintings, where one artist's work is completed or altered by another thousands of years later, suggests that the paintings were created by multiple artists.
When was the Shovive Cave discovered and by whom?
-The Shovive Cave was discovered in 1994, but the documentary does not specify by whom.
What is the release date of Herzog's film 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams' in US theaters?
-The film 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams' was released in US theaters on April 29th.
Outlines
đ„ Herzog's Documentary on Shovive Cave Art
Filmmaker Werner Herzog describes his profound experience in the Shovive Cave in Southern France, which contains prehistoric artwork dating back to the last ice age. Herzog's documentary, 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams,' explores this treasure trove of art. The cave, discovered in 1994, is presented as a pristine time capsule, with Herzog noting the strikingly fresh appearance of the cave bear tracks, despite the species' extinction 20,000 years ago. Herzog was granted special permission by the French government to film in the cave, with strict limitations to protect the site from damage. The documentary offers a unique view into Paleolithic Europe, featuring extinct creatures like the woolly rhino, mammoth, and cave lions. Herzog is particularly captivated by the lion paintings, which display a collective focus on an unknown prey. The documentary also discusses how the paintings may be the work of many artists over thousands of years, as evidenced by radiocarbon dating. Herzog introduces the concept of 'prehistoric cinema,' suggesting that the paintings, when illuminated by torchlight, create a sense of movement and life, akin to early animation.
đ 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams' Premiere and Experience
The documentary 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams' by Werner Herzog is set to premiere in US theaters on April 29th, offering a rare opportunity for the public to virtually explore the Shovive Cave. The film provides a dramatic portrayal of the space, utilizing LED lights to create dynamic shadows and enhance the sense of depth within the cave. Herzog's innovative approach to lighting and filming within the cave's delicate environment aims to preserve the integrity of the site while allowing viewers to experience the ancient artwork. The film promises to be an immersive journey into the world of our Paleolithic ancestors, inviting audiences to listen to the cave and perhaps even hear their own heartbeats, echoing Herzog's own experience.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄShovavi Cave
đĄWerner Herzog
đĄPaleolithic Art
đĄCave Bear
đĄRadiocarbon Dating
đĄPrehistoric Cinema
đĄLED Lights
đĄExtinct Creatures
đĄToxic Gases
đĄScientific American
đĄCave of Forgotten Dreams
Highlights
Werner Herzog's documentary 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams' explores the Shovavi Cave in southern France, which contains artwork from the last ice age.
The cave is described as a time capsule, with the pristine state of the artwork giving the impression of recent activity by extinct cave bears.
The Shovavi Cave was discovered in 1994, and Herzog is the first to document it on film, potentially the last due to preservation concerns.
Access to the cave for filming required special permission from the French government and was limited to a few hours per day to minimize exposure to toxic gases.
The film provides an unprecedented glimpse into Paleolithic Europe and the now-extinct creatures depicted in the cave's artwork.
Herzog was particularly captivated by the depictions of lions in the cave, which appear to be stalking an unknown prey.
New evidence suggests that the cave paintings are the work of many artists over thousands of years, as revealed by radiocarbon dating.
Herzog claims the cave walls represent a form of prehistoric cinema, with paintings depicting movement in a sequence similar to early cartoons.
The use of LED lights in the documentary recreates the effect of ancient torchlight, casting shadows and giving the paintings a sense of movement.
The documentary suggests that the painters of the cave may have utilized the dramatic effect of shadows and light to enhance the artwork.
Herzog's film 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams' premiered in US theaters on April 29th, offering a rare opportunity to experience the cave virtually.
The documentary emphasizes the importance of preserving the cave's delicate ecosystem, as seen with the closure of the Lascaux cave due to mold growth.
The film explores the idea that each drawing in the cave may have had a single creator, contributing to the collective artistic narrative of the Paleolithic era.
Herzog's innovative use of modern technology, such as LED lights, allows for a unique interpretation of the ancient artwork within the cave.
The documentary invites viewers to consider the role of art and storytelling in ancient societies, as evidenced by the detailed cave paintings.
The Shovavi Cave's discovery and documentation highlight the ongoing importance of archaeological research in understanding our past.
Transcripts
[Music]
when you hold your breath you hear your
own
heartbeat that's how filmmaker verer
Herzog describes his experience visiting
the shovi cave in the south of France
the cave is a treasure Trove of artwork
that dates to the last ice age and it is
the subject of herzog's latest
documentary Cave of Forgotten
Dreams scientific Americans sat down
with the fame director to discuss his
film and the journey into the shovi cave
sometimes you had this feeling
everything is so
fresh and the cave was left in such a
pristine State as a perfect time capsule
you had the feeling it was just uh a few
days ago that a cave bear walked along
the the the tra the tracks are fairly
fresh but we know the Cave Bear Went
extinct some 20,000 years ago it's just
completely
stunning The shovi Cave was discovered
in 1994 but Herzog is the first to
document it on film and he may be the
last the dangers are too obvious Lasco
for example the most famous cave so far
before sh was discovered um allowed too
many people in there and the exhalation
the breath of too many people left a
mold on the walls which cannot be
controlled
easily and they had to shut it down
categorically so in order to film there
he had to get special permission from
the French government even then he was
only allowed access for a few hours per
day this was to minimize exposure to
toxic gases that poisoned the Cave's Air
Supply overcoming these obstacles was
well worth the effort the film gives us
an unprecedented glimpse into
Paleolithic Europe and the creatures
that once lived there all the creatures
entire
bestiary almost all of them extinct by
now the woolly Rhino the wooly mammoth
megaloceros
uh Cave
bears cave
Lions but because of the paintings we
know that the males had no main was
there a particular animal uh on the cave
walls that sort of captured your
imagination more than anything the
Lions because uh it's such an
ingenious Ensemble of lion
stalking stalking some prey and all the
eyes are completely focused at one
target and we don't know what they are
stalking it's easy to imagine each of
these drawings having a single Creator
but new evidence reveals they are the
work of many many artists sometimes
separated by thousands of years when you
look at some of the paintings somebody
uh makes a charcoal painting of a
reindeer and we can fairly precisely um
date it through radiocarbon dating and
somebody completes the picture and over
paints it somewhat we can establish that
this other person did it 5,000 years
later one of herzog's boldest claims is
that the cave walls represent a kind of
prehistoric Cinema uh what is striking
you see a galloping bison in the Bison
has eight legs somehow hinting movement
or you see a woolly Rhino and you see it
in in eight phases the the Horn of the
Rhino and the body just one next to the
other and and moving on as if it were an
early form of uh
cartoon cartoon movie in
phases and in a way that you had to
stand with the fires behind you and you
would have the panel of
horses as a person you would cast
shadows and the the animals Were Somehow
flickering and slightly moving with a
torch light uh these paintings would
pulse they would move they would have a
different
life but using the term Proto Cinema of
of course is a little bit
provocative Herzog doesn't leave his
Proto Cinema purely to
imagination he creates his own version
with the help of a very modern invention
LED
lights this was the only lighting he was
allowed to bring inside the cave what we
did is we would we would move the light
if there was a niche for example where
you are sitting and when you move the
light when you walk away with the light
all of a sudden the Shadows grow longer
and longer and uh it gives a very strong
sense of uh uh formation of space a
drama of space which was understood and
utilized by by the
painters herzog's film opens in US
theaters April 29th and for now it may
be the closest most of us can get to the
Cave of Forgotten Dreams for Scientific
American I'm Eric
Olen silence please we're going to
listen to The Cave
and perhaps we can even hear our own
Heartbeats
[Music]
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