Heart of Glass - 1976

After the opening few scenes of Werner Herzog's Herz aus Glas a hypnotic effect is created upon the viewer. The world Herzog creates through the unfolding of the story and Jorg Schmidt-Reitwein stunningly evocative cinematography is bewitching, absorbing and yet distancing in a strange, surreal way. The film tells the story of a pre-industrial Bavarian village in which all the inhabitants have fallen into madness after the death of the local glass blower, who has taken the secret of his ruby glass. A seer from the hills then arrives in the village with ominous prophecies of doom.
Herzog is known for his challenging films and Heart of Glass is up there with the weirdest them. The most fascinating and strangely terrifying thing about the film are the performances; the actors performing their roles hypnotised. This adds to the eerie atmosphere created by Herzog as each character reacts in unnatrual ways to the events going around them, and everyone appears under a spell.
Although Heart of Glass is an absorbing, unique and beautifully made film, I found it a tad hollow as it failed to connect with me in a deep, emotional way. Although Herzog exploits to the best of his ability the sense of loss and fear the village feels at the death of the glass blower, it never quite manages to reach the heights of Nosferatu or Aguirre which both have similar aura's about them.
Another bizarre yet brilliant film from Herzog which may be difficult to enjoy or engage with but is no less fascinating for it.