Burden of Dreams

Burden of Dreams (1982)

  • 100% of critics liked it
    (15 reviews)

  • 89% of users liked it
    (3,163 ratings)

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… More

R,
Directed By
Written By
Michael Goodwin
Genres
Television, Documentary, Musical & Performing Arts
In Theaters
Jan 1, 1982 Wide
Flower Films

Critic Reviews

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

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

  • Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

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

  • Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews

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

  • Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

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

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    Remarkably candid behind-the-scenes documentary.

Read all 12 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Chris W


    There are a number of movies that people who think they want to make movies should see beforehand, and this one just might be the epitome of that. Werner Herzog is, hands down, the most fascinating film director of all time. He just has all these qualities that elevate him, and… More

  • Anthony L


    The ultimate making of Documentary, far better than the other 'ultimate' doc Heart of Darkness. It's a shame Les Blank didn't film Wrath of God but then he may not have survived. A must for film makers, wannabe film makers, producers and Werner worshippers.… More

  • Jonathan H


    Plenty of documentaries are made about the art of filmmaking, but very few capture the drive/lunacy it sometimes takes to realize a vision like Burden of Dreams. Les Blank's film, in my opinion, does a better job of portraying the insanity and spirit of Fitzcarraldo than the… More

  • Reid V


    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… More

  • AJ V


    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.

Read all 8 featured audience ratings

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