To know Werner Herzog is to have strong opinions on the prolific filmmaker. The German director has a very distinct way of examining the oddities of the world that has become something ripe for parody. If you have been exposed to his work, you are apt to find him either an unabashed genius or a pompous intellectual. Whichever way you fall, you have to admit that his narrative efforts rarely feel phoned in or lazy in any respect. Take something such as Grizzly Man, which documented the life and death of an adventurous soul that lived among grizzly bears as something of a protector. The thoughtful ruminations he brought to this film kept his subject from merely being a kook who got a bit too comfortable with bears. In Nomad: In The Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin we find Herzog at what might be his most sentimental in quite some time. This must be due to his personal connection with the subject; English novelist and adventurer Bruce Chatwin died of complications from AIDS in 1989, but this was not before he could establish a formidable kinship with the like-minded Herzog that spanned many years. In this documentary, Herzog attempts to honor the life of his friend by foregoing a straightforward biography in favor of something more transcendent.
Nomad is a sprawling narrative that is divided into eight chapters in which the auteur travels to some of the most notable locations from Chatwin’s life to explore the world as the author saw it. In addition to taking in the stunning landscapes, Herzog offers up narration through Chatwin’s own vocal recordings of his work or through Herzog reading his unrecorded work. You can easily see why these two were close during their lifetime; their mutual fascination with the nature of human existence led each of them on a nomadic journey in search of spiritual truth. The initial step in this journey takes Herzog to one of the locales featured in Chatwin’s acclaimed book In Patagonia from 1977. It is here where we learn the story of Chatwin’s ancestor coming into possession of the skin and bone of what he believed to be a 10,000-year-old Brontosaurus, but which turned out to be a giant sloth called a Mylodon. Herzog even gets to interview the granddaughter of the man who found these remains, which offers up a story worthy of its own documentary. He takes time to ruminate on the majesty that the world has to offer while also highlighting how this was the spark Chatwin needed to dedicate his life to exploration.
As you soon learn, Herzog is not content to settle on one aspect of Chatwin’s journey for too long. Any one subject in this documentary could make for an engaging feature. Take for example the examination of the Aboriginal lands of Australia where Herzog focuses on Chatwin’s research into songlines. While the concept remains somewhat vague, the general belief is that there is a tangible connection between Aboriginal songs and the vast stretches of carved land that spans throughout central Australia. Even if you are hesitant to believe songs carved the Earth rather than normal weather patterns, the metaphor of music pulsing through our surroundings is something that is heartening food for thought. Herzog collects interviews from individuals close to his subject at hand, such as Aboriginal leaders, as well as Chatwin’s wife and his biographer. Despite this, the film never seems set on forming a neat line from event to event, choosing instead to flit from experience to experience all the while the audience draws their own conclusion of Chatwin. The effectiveness of this approach will be entirely dependent on what the viewer wants from this film.
Nomad is not a film that will appeal to all audiences. Having an appreciation for Herzog or Chatwin will definitely help, but the contemplative nature of both of these individuals may test the resolve of less patient audience members. That just might be the point of the entire film, though. Chatwin was a person who wanted to explore every facet that Earth had to offer, and he felt that could only be accomplished through a nomadic lifestyle. Far too often individuals zoom through their lives without truly taking in their surroundings. Walking is seen as a sacred experience to Chatwin; the slow-paced, hard journey through life may not offer the convenience of a faster lifestyle, but the beauty of the world will reveal itself to those who take the time to appreciate it. You are forgiven if you feel like you do not have the time or patience to dedicate ninety minutes to exploration, but those who do give into this adventure may find something truly beautiful. By the end of this film, you will probably have specific biographical questions about Chatwin left unanswered, but you will understand who he was on a spiritual level. From what we learn about Chatwin, this is exactly how he would have wanted it.
Video Quality
Nomad: In The Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin comes to Blu-Ray in an AVC encoded transfer in 1.78:1 courtesy of Music Box Films featuring mostly newly filmed material outside of the fleeting movie clip or archival interview. This presentation is quite stunning and offers a stable image quality throughout. The archival clips that are used seem to be the best versions that were available when this was made, with most of them looking pretty excellent. Herzog captures some awe-inspiring landscapes that really pop in high definition. Not only do the textural details render cleanly, but the lush greenery leaps off the screen. There is no evidence of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances of the sort. Skin tones look natural throughout the runtime. I do not see how this set could have been improved visually. It’s a real stunner as is.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that perfectly suits the source material, but is understandably restrained. With all of the varied settings in the film, you are left wondering how enveloping this may have sounded in full surround sound, but this 2.0 track is no slouch. Dialogue is the focus right up front in the center channel with everything coming through crisp and clear. This is not a film with much in the way of action, but the moving score from Ernst Reijseger gives the track a nice identity. The two-channel presentation is enveloping in its own way, and it maintains the artistic choice of the director. For that reason, this is an excellent audio track. Optional English subtitles are available.
Special Features
- In The Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin – A Conversation with Werner Herzog: A 36-minute interview with director Werner Herzog at the Sheffield Documentary Fest. In this discussion, Herzog talks about his friendship with Chatwin, how he took the pitch for the documentary from the BBC and made it his own and more fascinating tidbits. This is worth it just to get a further peek at how his mind works.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here in high definition that gives you a nice glimpse into the subject.
Final Thoughts
Nomad: In The Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin offers a beautiful look at a notable explorer and the world at large through the eyes of one of the most curious minds in the business. Those who are not really into contemplative documentaries may find this one hard to get into, but those who like the sound of a measured journey through the natural world should find a lot to connect with here. Music Box Films has given this one a Blu-Ray with a splendid A/V presentation and a couple of special features. Those considering a purchase should find this a worthwhile package. Recommended
Nomad: In The Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Music Box Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
