Encounters at the End of the World (2007)

In Werner Herzog's latest cinematic investigation, he rummages through endless plains of ice, and volcanic fire pits, making known some of Antarctica's most interesting misanthropes. But first he grandly presents, with rich blues and glowing corals, the literal underground world of Antarctica, the aquatic world beneath the ice. A world hardly tampered with, and commonly referred to among divers as a "sanctuary." It is a meditative display of a mysterious, barely accessible habitat penetrated by few. Though this film isn't about the natural history of Antarctica, Herzog relentlessly shares the beauty of its landscapes, and admits that its natural beauty was his initial motivation for filming there.

It seems as if (rightfully) Herzog can't decide for himself whether the small community of McMurdo (population approximately 1000) offers a healthy dose of solace for five months of the year or functions as a source of "corrosive isolation." There is Douglas MacAyeal, a well-rounded glaciologist who views glaciers as a dynamic entity providing change. The diver, Henry Kaiser, who speaks of career fulfillment, and reflects on how he should retire soon to make room for the younger generation of explorers. Then there is William Jirsa, a young, educated linguist who finds bliss on a continent with no language, a land where PhDs become line cooks.

Herzog, though clearly proclaiming that this is not another film about penguins, does include a segment where he studies their behaviors with marine ecologist, David Ainley. David Ainley tells tales of prostitution between penguins for rocks, triangular relationships and other unexpected habits he's observed among the colony. In a moment of more grave mirroring behaviors, one penguin breaks away from its colony and heads for the mountains to "certain death."

Herzog has taken an enviable approach to filming the little known community of Antarctica. His approach is intuitive, humane, cynical yet still inclusive of the scientific community and the research they yield. He ties together a very small community and presents it on a global scale without losing intimacy with his subjects. He provides an interesting platform where global warming and women who travel across South America in a sewer pipe are equally fascinating.

His narration courageously adds humor to situations where few would be able to do so for themselves. His nondiscriminatory curiosity leads us into the life of a descendant of Aztec royalty who proudly displays his uniquely sized fingers. His refusal to impose how to go about finding a theme during production leads us into a research laboratory devoted to finding a Nutrino with the highest energy level. Science and art weave together creating one of Herzog's strongest films to date. Encounters at the End of the World is definitely one of the most sincere yet powerful documentaries ever made.