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CONQUEST OF
An Entry from the Production
In 1979, Werner Herzog approached 20th Century Fox to fund a movie, based on a true story, about an overzealous rubber baron who wishes to stage an opera in the middle of the Peruvian Amazon. The producers loved the idea and were about to sign off when the discussion turned to a scene that involved pulling a steamship over a mountainous isthmus, from one river to another. “So you’re going to use a plastic model boat, right?” the backers asked Herzog. The director replied that the camera had to capture “a real steamship being hauled over a real mountain, though not for the sake of realism but for the stylization characteristic of grand opera.” He was met with icy stares, whereupon he realized that he alone would have to raise the money for the film. Over the course of the next two years, through perhaps the most difficult shoot in the history of cinema, he kept a production diary. After he penned the final entry, it sat unread for 20 years. Now, finally, it’s about to be published in book form. Here we present an excerpt from this diary, which will be released on June 30 as
. It’s one of the best books we’ve read so far this year, but that’s no surprise because it’s Herzog and everything he does is perfect because he’s perfect. Perfect perfect perfect.
CAMISEA, 22 APRIL 1981
Huallaga
Huallaga
Huallaga
peke-peke
CONQUEST OF
THE USELESS
An Entry from the Production
Diary of Fitzcarraldo
In 1979, Werner Herzog approached 20th Century Fox to fund a movie, based on a true story, about an overzealous rubber baron who wishes to stage an opera in the middle of the Peruvian Amazon. The producers loved the idea and were about to sign off when the discussion turned to a scene that involved pulling a steamship over a mountainous isthmus, from one river to another. “So you’re going to use a plastic model boat, right?” the backers asked Herzog. The director replied that the camera had to capture “a real steamship being hauled over a real mountain, though not for the sake of realism but for the stylization characteristic of grand opera.” He was met with icy stares, whereupon he realized that he alone would have to raise the money for the film. Over the course of the next two years, through perhaps the most difficult shoot in the history of cinema, he kept a production diary. After he penned the final entry, it sat unread for 20 years. Now, finally, it’s about to be published in book form. Here we present an excerpt from this diary, which will be released on June 30 as
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The 320-ton steamship that was both the bane and realization of Herzog’s dreams.
HuallagaDuring rehearsal Werner Herzog, Klaus Kinski, and actor Miguel Ángel Fuentes look over a contract stating that Fitzcarraldo now owns the ship Molly Aida.
mi amor peke-pekes chakras From the forthcoming book Copyright © 2009 by Werner Herzog. Translated by Krishna Winston. To be published on June 30, 2009 by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.Περισσότερα από το VICE
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GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND – JUNE 28: Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Provaí of Kneecap perform on the West Holts stage during day four of Glastonbury festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 28, 2025 in Glastonbury, England. Established by Michael Eavis in 1970, Glastonbury has grown into the UK's largest music festival, drawing over 200,000 fans to enjoy performances across more than 100 stages. In 2026, the festival will take a fallow year, a planned pause to allow the Worthy Farm site time to rest and recover. (Photo by Ki Price/WireImage) -
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