Among all the documentaries of Werner Herzog has ever made, this one is decidedly simple, concise, and straightforward. Given the common subject matter and rueful insights of his body of work, a feature about ski-jumping perhaps seems out of place. Yet for anyone who has explored the filmmaker's oeuvre even in part, it also becomes evident that there are deeper truths within 'The great ecstasy of woodcarver Steiner' for which narration is unnecessary. Herzog's pictures are nothing if not an examination of humanity, in all its variety, by one who is plainly fascinated with it, and with this in mind one can see how the focus here holds such interest for the director. Long, loving shots of athletes in flight, and primarily Walter Steiner, accentuates the dedication and commitment that is required not just to compete in the sport, but to execute each jump. The creation and upkeep of skis, and the length, grade, and condition of the ramp, all further bring to clarity that ski-jumping requires unerring precision - of both body and mind. One slight miscalculation in how an athlete holds their feet in the air, or any thought or feeling that induces distraction and hesitation, may result in a crash, and possible grievous injury. Each jump demands exquisite bodily fortitude and - in and of itself, but also to even achieve peak physical condition - an indomitable spirit.
And there's the crux, I suspect, for Herzog: the human spirit, and what it can accomplish. Indeed, Steiner was remarked as having achieved records during his career; how much more daunting must events become, then, when a trace of doubt or fear enters one mind, as Steiner is shown to struggle with here? It's no wonder that ski-jumping appealed so much to the filmmaker, and this is to say nothing of the artistry in the execution of every flight, and the unique beauty of watching a person briefly soaring through the air by sheer force of will. Those words that Herzog speaks in 'The great ecstasy' by way of narration are not nearly so profound, but they do not need to be. The footage says all, and to this point I must also commend cinematographer Jörg Schmidt-Reitwein for capturing such moments that can only be described as majestic, and kudos as well to film editor Beate Mainka-Jellinghaus. Figure in the enticing musical themes provided on the soundtrack by regular collaborators Popol Vuh, and this 45-minute documentary becomes far much more than it would ever seem at first blush.
All this having been said: on the face of it, there's no arguing that the material here is very light. To get the most value out of this picture, one must be somewhat well-versed in Herzog's work, or readily prepared to approach any movie with the same keen eye as one would an arthouse flick. Unless one is an especial fan of winter sports, for the casual viewer I can't imagine there's much attraction. Still, for abject cinephiles and those able and willing to truly look beyond, 'The great ecstasy of woodcarver Steiner' bears worth that well surpasses what the naked eye discerns. Recommendable mostly for niche audiences, I also don't think 'The great ecstasy' claims to be anything it's not. So if anything I've written has caught your ear in a good way, then kick back, relax, and soak in 45 surprisingly lush minutes.
And there's the crux, I suspect, for Herzog: the human spirit, and what it can accomplish. Indeed, Steiner was remarked as having achieved records during his career; how much more daunting must events become, then, when a trace of doubt or fear enters one mind, as Steiner is shown to struggle with here? It's no wonder that ski-jumping appealed so much to the filmmaker, and this is to say nothing of the artistry in the execution of every flight, and the unique beauty of watching a person briefly soaring through the air by sheer force of will. Those words that Herzog speaks in 'The great ecstasy' by way of narration are not nearly so profound, but they do not need to be. The footage says all, and to this point I must also commend cinematographer Jörg Schmidt-Reitwein for capturing such moments that can only be described as majestic, and kudos as well to film editor Beate Mainka-Jellinghaus. Figure in the enticing musical themes provided on the soundtrack by regular collaborators Popol Vuh, and this 45-minute documentary becomes far much more than it would ever seem at first blush.
All this having been said: on the face of it, there's no arguing that the material here is very light. To get the most value out of this picture, one must be somewhat well-versed in Herzog's work, or readily prepared to approach any movie with the same keen eye as one would an arthouse flick. Unless one is an especial fan of winter sports, for the casual viewer I can't imagine there's much attraction. Still, for abject cinephiles and those able and willing to truly look beyond, 'The great ecstasy of woodcarver Steiner' bears worth that well surpasses what the naked eye discerns. Recommendable mostly for niche audiences, I also don't think 'The great ecstasy' claims to be anything it's not. So if anything I've written has caught your ear in a good way, then kick back, relax, and soak in 45 surprisingly lush minutes.