Review #391: 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams' (2010)

In 1994, three speleologists discovered a cave in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc which is now considered one of the most important archaeological and artistic discoveries in history. Inside the cave, the walls were covered with the earliest known cave paintings yet to be discovered. Pictures of animals and one of a woman date back as far as 30,000-32,000 years ago, and due to a landslide that sealed the cave, has remained untouched until its re-discovery. Naturally, the cave intrigued film-maker and pioneer of the eccentric Werner Herzog, who was given special permission to explore and film inside the cave. He and two assistants take us throughout the cave and show us the beautiful art, as well as some preserved child footprints and skulls of now-extinct cave bears.

Herzog has made many fine features in his time (his most notable work involves Klaus Kinski), yet it is always his documentaries that get me excited, as no-one seems to be able to tackle a subject matter with the same kind of fascination and unorthodox approach as the great German. He does not disappoint here, as Cave of Forgotten Dreams contains his trademark unusual narration, as well as interviews with some eccentrics. The first section of the film focuses mainly on Herzog's visit of the cave, as we are shown the strict rules the visitors must abide by such as not touching anything and staying on the 2-foot wide walkway that has been created through the cave. Considering he didn't have the space for a large camera, Herzog and his crew do magnificently in capturing the beauty and mysticism of the cave. He also filmed in 3-D, which I would imagine would be quite exceptional, but unfortunately I only saw it in 2-D.

Herzog tries to paint a larger picture (no pun intended) than just the cave itself, interviewing scientists, art historians, archaeologists, and even a master perfumer, who tries to sniff out other collapsed caves in the surrounding areas. Whether Herzog brings it out in them, or he simply bends the truth for artistic purposes, a lot of the people in the film seem just as strange as Herzog himself. This is common in his films, notably Grizzly Man (2005) and Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1998), but he is not fooling the audience, he is simply allowing them to share his vision. The film does go off focus a little at the end, as it seems to jump to different subjects in a haphazard manner, but this is fascinating and beautiful nonetheless. Not quite as moving and tragic as Grizzly Man, or as visually poetic as Encounters At the End of the World (2007), but this is essential viewing for fans of Herzog, history and art alike.


Directed by: Werner Herzog
Country: Canada/USA/France/Germany/UK

Rating: ****

Tom Gillespie