Documentary
United States of America
The film opens with breathtaking footage of the starkly beautiful, frozen landscapes of Antarctica, captured by cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger. Director Werner Herzog provides voiceover narration that discusses Antarctica as a place of extreme contrasts - both vast and empty, yet home to a small community of researchers and other residents.
Herzog and Zeitlinger interview several of these Antarctic dwellers, including a linguist who is studying the unique accents that have developed among the continent's diverse population, and a marine biologist who is tracking the migrations of tiny creatures called krill. There are also glimpses of the everyday routines of these residents, from sleeping in cramped quarters to participating in survival training exercises.
But Herzog is most interested in the more eccentric members of the Antarctic community, such as a man who builds elaborate snow sculptures and a woman who is attempting to scale one of the continent's tallest peaks. He also introduces us to a group of scientists who are studying the behavior of seals, and a man who works as a heavy equipment operator on a massive ice-breaking vessel.
Throughout the film, Herzog's narration touches on themes such as the fragility of human existence in such a harsh environment, and the dreamlike nature of Antarctica's surreal landscapes. Although he never ignores the natural beauty of the continent - indeed, some of the film's most striking moments involve underwater footage of strange creatures or time-lapses of the aurora australis - Herzog's focus remains squarely on the human element of the story. Whether he is interviewing a scientist or a grizzled veteran of many Antarctic expeditions, the director is fascinated by the vast array of personalities and backgrounds that are united by their work and their passion for this unique place.
