So the story goes, Werner Herzog, upon encountering young up-and-coming filmmaker Errol Morris, said that if he ever made and screened his first film, Werner would eat his shoe. Well, by hook & by crook, that dude did it, finally getting his documentary on a pet cemetery business called Gates of Heaven made and debuted, and Werner knew what he had to do. This is a nice little documentary about Herzog being Herzog.
Some pretty gnarly old boots. Some onions. Garlic. Hot sauce. Rosemary. Duck fat to help the leather get softer. A few dashes of salt. How to prepare a boot for digestion. And beer, because you gotta wash that shit down with something!
Herzog’s a pretty unique guy. If you’ve watched any of his films, you know he doesn’t necessarily take the easy path. And this captures that, while including some of his thoughts on society, the role that pictures and film can play in it, but also about keeping your word. Because if you don’t do that, what kind of person are you? Can’t say I disagree, and this is a nice little capsule of philosophy and integrity.
