Fitzcarraldo (1982)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Reid V

  
  This film is exhausting to watch due to it's immense scale. Herzog, much like the character that Kinski portrays, must have been absolutely mad when creating a film of this magnitude. While it is not the most exciting film to watch, it is certainly worth the experience. Heck,… More
  This film is exhausting to watch due to it's immense scale. Herzog, much like the character that Kinski portrays, must have been absolutely mad when creating a film of this magnitude. While it is not the most exciting film to watch, it is certainly worth the experience. Heck, when is a Herzog/Kinski collaboration not worth your time?

• Randy T

  
  I'm in awe of the amount of time and effort that it must have taken to make this film possible. It is man against nature on the grandest of scales. A contrast of lace and mud. <i>Fitzcarraldo</i> is a study of the line between modern society and the last outposts… More
  I'm in awe of the amount of time and effort that it must have taken to make this film possible. It is man against nature on the grandest of scales. A contrast of lace and mud. <i>Fitzcarraldo</i> is a study of the line between modern society and the last outposts of frontier. The story of a man who dreams of bringing opera to the jungles of South America. I'm not sure if I understand director Werner Herzog's motivation but I certainly admire his stamina.

• Anthony L

  
  An amazing achievement and an amazing story, and that's just what happened behind the camera. This is not my favourite Herzog film, in fact, I'm more interested in the making of the film than the film itself, but that said, it?s still one of the greatest films ever made!

• Chris W

  
  This is art. This is visual lyric poetry. This is a protrait of desire, obsession, passion at its best. This is not a flawless or perfect film though. It is maybe just too long, too meandering at times, but even then, there is no denying that this fim exists on a plane all its own.… More
  This is art. This is visual lyric poetry. This is a protrait of desire, obsession, passion at its best. This is not a flawless or perfect film though. It is maybe just too long, too meandering at times, but even then, there is no denying that this fim exists on a plane all its own. There are no directors that can be compared to Herzog. Terrence Malick, maybe. But even then, Herzog is truly one of a kind. Kinski is brilliant- a little more restrained than I anticipated, but still very driven and determined to make his dreams come true nonetheless. It's a pity films are not, and will not ever be made like this again, but one could only hope that, even if they can't reach the same level as Herzog, they could still try.

• Elvira B

  
  I was finally able to watch Fitzcarraldo! And it didn't disappoint me at all in spite of my very high expectations. All in all this is one of those epic movies made by visionaries that come only once in a blue moon. Brian Sweeny Fitzgerald is a railroad builder in Iquitos, a… More
  I was finally able to watch Fitzcarraldo! And it didn't disappoint me at all in spite of my very high expectations. All in all this is one of those epic movies made by visionaries that come only once in a blue moon. Brian Sweeny Fitzgerald is a railroad builder in Iquitos, a Peruvian town of multimillionaire rubber producers. His dream is to build a majestic Opera House there, and for Caruso and Sarah Bernhardt to sing on the opening night. Unfortunately, the railroad business is not too prosperous and since he cannot find any investors he must find an unoccupied portion of nearby jungle to start producing his own rubber and collect some funds for his dream. The task is not as easy as it seems... there's a reason why those lands remain unexploited, but i won't give the whole thing away :) just keep in mind it all involves dragging a ship up a hill from one river to another. Everything about Fitzcarraldo is grandieuse and mad. Werner Herzog actually built 3 real ships to shoot the movie, and actually dragged one of them over the hills. So who's madder, Fitzcarraldo or Herzog? There's something empowering and exciting about this determined man playing Rigoletto into the Amazonian jungle, and conducting the work of more than a hundred Indians ever impeccable in his white suit and hat. Klaus Kinski is as usual incredible as Fitzcarraldo. He goes from being gentle and meditative into obsessive frenzies with a single change of his facial expression. Claudia Cardinale is also very good although she doesn't have a lot of screen time. I loved the rest of the supporting cast as much as ever in Herzog's movies... people who seemed like they could have actually been the crew of this insane voyage. Herzog also relied on real Indians, not people dressed up with feathers in their hair. It feels like a documentary when it doesn't display scenes of odd and pure cinematic beauty. Fitzcarraldo is one of those movies that puts stuff like the remake of the Poseidon or Titanic to shame. It's audacious, bizarre, and skillfully made. It alternates between the hilarious and the pathetic with taste. Annd although I prefer "Aguirre" in the category of movies made by Werner Herzog in the Amazon Rain Forest (Kinski's performance is just plain frightening - and I like to be frightened in a healthy way), it shouldn't be missed. A breath of fresh air -courage, authenticity, and bullshit-free eccentricity.

• Stephen M

  
  Klaus Kinski, Werner Herzog, a boat, the Amazon and a tale of epic folly. Hmmm...sounds familiar! To a certain extent Herzog is revisiting a past glory here, but comparing and contrasting <I>Fitzcarraldo</I> with <I>Aguirre: Wrath of God</I> is one of the great… More
  Klaus Kinski, Werner Herzog, a boat, the Amazon and a tale of epic folly. Hmmm...sounds familiar! To a certain extent Herzog is revisiting a past glory here, but comparing and contrasting <I>Fitzcarraldo</I> with <I>Aguirre: Wrath of God</I> is one of the great pleasures of watching the movie. Fitzcarraldo, the character, more closely resembles <I>Aguirre</I>'s Brother Gaspar de Carvajal than the megalomaniacal conquistador himself; yes, he is desperate for wealth, but only as a means to a philanthropic end: to bring opera to the masses. He's a dreamer who has discovered something wonderful and just has an overwhelming desire to share it; Fitzcarraldo is really a missionary, the secular equivalent of de Carvajal, only more zealous and totally incorruptible. Obviously the highlight of the film is the passage of Fitzcarraldo's steamboat, Molly-Aida, over the mountain, during which Herzog fascinatingly blurs the line between documentary and narrative filmmaking, to the extent where, as one who hasn't seen it, I begin to wonder whether he hasn't effectively rendered Les Blank's companion documentary, loftily entitled <I>Burden of Dreams</I>, at least partly redundant. Did Herzog have <i>Once Upon a Time in the West</i> in mind when casting <I>Fitzcarraldo</I>? There are certainly echoes of Jill McBain in Molly, the character Claudia Cardinale plays in the film: the prostitute lover of a visionary Irish dreamer. Interesting, too, that Jason Robards, Cardinale's <i>OUATITW</i> co-star, was originally cast as the lead here. Coincidence?

• Robert C

  
  I must say that this is quite an epic story and the fact that it is based on actual events (al beit loosely) is pretty amazing. I think what is most impressive is the fact that (with the exception of one model shot) most of this film was made in the traditional way, by using actual… More
  I must say that this is quite an epic story and the fact that it is based on actual events (al beit loosely) is pretty amazing. I think what is most impressive is the fact that (with the exception of one model shot) most of this film was made in the traditional way, by using actual props, locations, etc. While it wasn't as good as I had hoped, it was still an impressive engossing film with a strong cast. And NO ONE does "crazed eccentric" like Klaus Kinski. I've heard many people say that the film is "too long" and my first response might be to agree. But then when I think about it, I believe the length of some of the scenes are essential in helping to establish the essence of this grueling, dangerous and passionate undertaking. I'm intrigued to know more about the real story now and to see the documentary (Burden Of Dreams) about the making of this film.

• Ken S

  
  One of the best movies I have ever seen... a true masterpieces of ambition and obsession...

• Pierluigi P

  
  Herzog's masterpiece. a deep touching, and bittersweet story of blind hope through the amazon river. phenomenal Klaus Kinski playing an enterprising man with an enormous love for the opera.

• Tsubaki S

  
  Herzog in a very defining moment. You just can't help to respect a director that takes the risk to pull a real boat trough the jungle while risking the lives of the whole crew. Only because he didn't wanted to trick the audiences with special effects. Kinski's… More
  Herzog in a very defining moment. You just can't help to respect a director that takes the risk to pull a real boat trough the jungle while risking the lives of the whole crew. Only because he didn't wanted to trick the audiences with special effects. Kinski's performance is great as usual, and even quite relaxed, which is a bit ironic considering his behaviour off-screen at that time was the total opposite. The ammount of anecdotic material surrounding this film is so big it almost eclipses the movie itself, and yet Herzog manages to pull it. Just like the main character of the film, Herzog went on to pursuit his dream of making the film the way he wanted. Because of that, Fitzcarraldo is a unique cinematic experience. Even for pure filming curiosity anyone with a certain interest in cinema should watch this.

• Christopher M

  
  One of the most ambitious film projects I've ever seen. Herzog brings us back to the jungle in a film of equal or even greater scope than Aguirre - and like that film, Klaus Kinski delivers an inspired performance as the eccentric entrepreneur who seeks to bring the magic of… More
  One of the most ambitious film projects I've ever seen. Herzog brings us back to the jungle in a film of equal or even greater scope than Aguirre - and like that film, Klaus Kinski delivers an inspired performance as the eccentric entrepreneur who seeks to bring the magic of opera to parts unknown. I love Herzog's direction, much of the film is shot in a very documentary-like way and a lot of what is done here is nothing short of amazing. The score I found hit and miss with me, and a few parts dragged, but there were no major issues - this is a unique piece of cinematic history.

• Mark K

  
  Another unique film in the Herzog/Kinski collection, Fitzcarraldo tell the almost unbelievable story of one of the craziest schemes ever attempted by human beings. In fact, it's really a case where madness really does translate to genius. It's a slow burn to watch, but… More
  Another unique film in the Herzog/Kinski collection, Fitzcarraldo tell the almost unbelievable story of one of the craziest schemes ever attempted by human beings. In fact, it's really a case where madness really does translate to genius. It's a slow burn to watch, but the beauty of the landscape and the sheer magnitude of the quest is impressive. Klaus Kinski plays yet another slightly mad Don Quixote figure tilting at the nearly impossible windmill of bringing opera to a small frontier town in Peru, via the treacherous Amazon River. You'll be amazed at what the filmmakers did with the story (which is fact-based). They literally re-created the attempt that the real mad Irishman tried. There's no CGI fakery here, it's all really happening as you watch. If you have an evening to see what dreamers can do when they put their minds to it, watch Fitzcarraldo.

• Alec B

  
  A wonderfully insane piece of filmmaking. I still can't believe they actually moved a 300 ton ship over land for this movie and then sent in down a series of rapids. No models, no CGI, Herzog did it for real. And the effect is powerful. The story is great too and Klaus Kinski… More
  A wonderfully insane piece of filmmaking. I still can't believe they actually moved a 300 ton ship over land for this movie and then sent in down a series of rapids. No models, no CGI, Herzog did it for real. And the effect is powerful. The story is great too and Klaus Kinski turned in a great performance.

• Mike T

  
  The insanity and extremity of this film's production is infamous, but it is also rightfully famous for its high quality. Werner Herzog's organic, intensely active filmmaking style works to the advantage of the project, evoking an unforgettable sense of time and place. His… More
  The insanity and extremity of this film's production is infamous, but it is also rightfully famous for its high quality. Werner Herzog's organic, intensely active filmmaking style works to the advantage of the project, evoking an unforgettable sense of time and place. His vision is awe-striking, gracing the screen with some of the most awesome images in history. He finds a worthy male lead in Klaus Kinski, who broods with subdued intensity for every moment onscreen. Plot is secondary to the actual experience of this movie, and it transports its audience into what often feels like the cinematic equivalent of a dream. Downright captivating.

• Brandon K

  
  Having heard the stories of the behind-the-scenes, it was far less crazy than I was expecting. I appreciate basing a story on moving a ship over a mountain and even with a long running time it definitely held my attention, but I don't know that I'd feel the need to watch it… More
  Having heard the stories of the behind-the-scenes, it was far less crazy than I was expecting. I appreciate basing a story on moving a ship over a mountain and even with a long running time it definitely held my attention, but I don't know that I'd feel the need to watch it again.

• Andre T

  
  Written and directed by Werner Herzog and starring Klaus Kinski as the title character. It portrays would-be rubber baron Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald, an Irishman known as Fitzcarraldo in Peru, who has to pull a steamship over a steep hill in order to access a rich rubber territory. The… More
  Written and directed by Werner Herzog and starring Klaus Kinski as the title character. It portrays would-be rubber baron Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald, an Irishman known as Fitzcarraldo in Peru, who has to pull a steamship over a steep hill in order to access a rich rubber territory. The film is derived from the real-life story of Peruvian rubber baron Carlos Fitzcarrald. In the 1890s, Fitzcarrald did bring a steamship across an isthmus from one river into another, but it weighed only 30 tons (rather than over 300), and was carried over in pieces to be reassembled at its destination. In his autobiographical film Portrait Werner Herzog, Herzog has stated that the film's spectacular production was partly inspired by the engineering feats of ancient standing stones. The film production was an incredible ordeal, and famously involved moving a 320-ton steamship over a hill without the use of special effects. Herzog believed that no one had ever performed a similar feat in history, and likely never will again, calling himself "Conquistador of the Useless".Three similar-looking ships were bought for the production and used in different scenes and locations, including scenes that were shot aboard the ship while it crashed through rapids, injuring three of the six people involved in the filming.This movie is a perfect vehicle to the stormed performance by the genius Klaus Kinski, the almost documental Herzog's style and the hypnotic music of the progressive band Popol Vuh, plus the stunning cinematography.

• Simeon D

  
  Werner Herzog's atmospheric journey into the jungle rivals "Apocalypse Now" in creepiness, visuals, and story. Far superior to Herzog/Kinski's more notable collaboration "Aguirre, the Wrath of God", save Kinski's performance, which is still… More
  Werner Herzog's atmospheric journey into the jungle rivals "Apocalypse Now" in creepiness, visuals, and story. Far superior to Herzog/Kinski's more notable collaboration "Aguirre, the Wrath of God", save Kinski's performance, which is still excellent. I was expecting a more disastrous ending, but either way the ending was great. 100/100

• Marcus W

  
  Herzog loves tales of obsession and here he has it in abundance. Fitzcarraldo is determined to build an opera house in the middle of the jungle even if it means dragging a steamboat over a mountain. And they did. They cleared jungle, hired hundreds of locals and dragged the boat over… More
  Herzog loves tales of obsession and here he has it in abundance. Fitzcarraldo is determined to build an opera house in the middle of the jungle even if it means dragging a steamboat over a mountain. And they did. They cleared jungle, hired hundreds of locals and dragged the boat over the mountain. No modelwork, no CGI. That alone is stunning, but chuck in Herzog's flawless eye for capturing nature and a good plot also. It isn't quite as good as Grizzly Man but this is Herzog's magnum opus.

• Ivan D

  
  Fitzcarraldo has two things in common with Aguirre, first, they both have an unforgettable river journey, and second, they both have a complex protagonist.Fitzcarraldo(Klaus Kinski) is eccentric, but with a good-heart, while Aguirre is just plain mad. Now enough with the comparison,… More
  Fitzcarraldo has two things in common with Aguirre, first, they both have an unforgettable river journey, and second, they both have a complex protagonist.Fitzcarraldo(Klaus Kinski) is eccentric, but with a good-heart, while Aguirre is just plain mad. Now enough with the comparison, the film is hypnotic at times and very refreshing, one would expect from a Werner Herzog film, and the boat carried up the mountain scene is a milestone in filmmaking, considering Herzog did not use any special effects. A brilliant piece of art and would rank among Herzog-Kinski collaboration's finest.

• Sean L

  
  I feel bad saying it, but the first hour or so of this movie really bored me. I'd seen Rescue Dawn, but this was my first exposure to classic Herzog. I had begun to feel really worried and saddened, but once they set off on their journey the movie picked up. By the time… More
  I feel bad saying it, but the first hour or so of this movie really bored me. I'd seen Rescue Dawn, but this was my first exposure to classic Herzog. I had begun to feel really worried and saddened, but once they set off on their journey the movie picked up. By the time Fitzcarraldo's crazy plan was fully revealed, I was hooked and the agonizing slowness and power of what transpires blew me away. Knowing that they could have just used a model, it was very obvious that the boat was real, and that made all the difference in the world.

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