Ep. 320: Werner Herzog’s Fitzcarraldo / Burden of Dreams

Claire and Gavia dig into the chaotic production process and artistic accomplishments Werner Herzog's acclaimed 1982 historical drama Fitzcarraldo, accompanied by its fascinating making-of documentary Burden of Dreams. Set in turn-of-the-century Peru, Fitzcarraldo explores an ill-advised river voyage by an Irish businessman (Klaus Kinski), who seeks to build an opera house in the Amazon basin. Behind the scenes, life imitated art as Herzog's film shoot dragged on for years, endangering the lives of cast and crew, and raising questions about the ethics of asking others to suffer for your art.