Werner Herzog's films are nothing if not a celebration of humanity in all its complexity. Many, whether fiction or non-fiction, also provide hard analysis in one fashion or another, or underhanded commentary. 'Herdsmen of the sun' is one of the filmmaker's most straightforward projects, as it is nothing more than an audiovisual record of a particular slice of the great diversity of culture around the world. This is, however, all that it needs to be. Interviews conducted through an interpreter provide some insight on the subjects' thoughts and feelings, more personal context for the ceremonies depicted herein, and background on the struggles of the Wodaabe. Herzog's own narration serenely informs of the meaning of the imagery we see before us, and one can only be awe-struck by how customs vary across the globe. Jörg Schmidt-Reitwein's cinematography, meanwhile, lovingly soaks in every detail that Herzog deems fit to present to us as a concise glimpse at this remote people, and Maximiliane Mainka's mindful editing shapes the picture into an easily digestible form. I can appreciate how documentaries don't appeal to all viewers, and some are easier to engage with than others. For those eager to learn, though, 'Herdsmen of the sun' is simply splendid.
Though surely only a small taste, the movie serves up a vibrant, flavorful portrait of the Wodaabe. We see their pastoral lifestyle, and the difficulty in maintaining it in light of shifting climates, government involvement, and the impact of the latter on the former. We see their marvelous, eye-catching clothes and makeup, especially those relative to the social rituals that lie at the heart of Herzog's picture. And for as outwardly different and subjectively strange as Wodaabe culture appears - just as with the people showcased in any of the filmmaker's productions, what becomes evident with the presentation is that all of humanity shares much in common with one another across time and space than it does not. Parallels can be drawn between any two societies, no matter how far-flung. And especially with that in mind, no matter how you look at it, 'Herdsmen of the sun' is wonderfully interesting, and altogether fascinating. Clocking in at a trim 50 minutes, this is worth more than the time it takes to watch.
Though surely only a small taste, the movie serves up a vibrant, flavorful portrait of the Wodaabe. We see their pastoral lifestyle, and the difficulty in maintaining it in light of shifting climates, government involvement, and the impact of the latter on the former. We see their marvelous, eye-catching clothes and makeup, especially those relative to the social rituals that lie at the heart of Herzog's picture. And for as outwardly different and subjectively strange as Wodaabe culture appears - just as with the people showcased in any of the filmmaker's productions, what becomes evident with the presentation is that all of humanity shares much in common with one another across time and space than it does not. Parallels can be drawn between any two societies, no matter how far-flung. And especially with that in mind, no matter how you look at it, 'Herdsmen of the sun' is wonderfully interesting, and altogether fascinating. Clocking in at a trim 50 minutes, this is worth more than the time it takes to watch.