Subscribe to watch - 14-day free trial, then £6.99 a month
Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer
A riveting and all-encompassing portrait of the iconic German filmmaker.
Director: Thomas von Steinaecker
Overview
In this compelling new film, Werner Herzog’s extraordinary life and work are brought into focus through clips from his finest films and interviews with those who know him best. This fascinating and insightful documentary explores the career of the auteur director, writer and poet, whose adventures in filmmaking are often as extraordinary as the stories they tell. Visits to his early family home and interviews with his brothers and partners offer personal insights into the formation of the young man who would go on to become a key German New Wave director, while contributions from collaborators and admirers, including Chloe Zhao, Wim Wenders, Nicole Kidman, Robert Pattinson and Joshua Oppenheimer, offer testament to the lasting appeal of this unique artist.
Drawing on clips from key titles in Herzog’s canon and time spent at one of his masterclasses, von Steinaecker explores his creative process, resulting in a compelling portrait of one of the cinema’s most distinctive and original voices.
Related
Center Stage Center Stage
Biopic 1991 155 mins Director: Stanley Kwan Kam-pang
Stanley Kwan’s rich and unconventional biopic of the tragic 1930s Chinese film star, Ruan Lingyu, starring Maggie Cheung.
The Long Day Closes The Long Day Closes
Biopic 1992 85 mins Director: Terence Davies
Terence Davies’ mosaic of childhood, imagination, time and memory is one of the greatest cinematic experiences.
Hunger Hunger
Biopic 2008 96 mins Director: Steve McQueen
Artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen made his cinema debut with this provocative portrait of Irish republican prisoners defying the British government.
I'm Still Here I'm Still Here
Drama 2024 138 mins Director: Walter Salles
Fernanda Torres ignites this Oscar-winning drama from Walter Salles, a triumph of hope over tyranny.
From Hilde, with Love From Hilde, with Love
Historical drama 2023 124 mins Director: Andreas Dresen
A powerful historical drama inspired by the true story of the Red Orchestra Nazi-resistance group and two courageous resistance fighters.
The People vs. Larry Flynt The People vs. Larry Flynt
Biopic 1996 130 mins Director: Milos Forman
Milos Forman’s provocative biopic starring Woody Harrelson as a notorious pornographer turned unlikely hero and champion of free speech.
I'm Still Here I'm Still Here
Drama 2024 138 mins Director: Walter Salles
Fernanda Torres ignites this Oscar-winning drama from Walter Salles, a triumph of hope over tyranny.
Islands Islands
Drama 2025 121 mins Director: Jan-Ole Gerster
A mysterious disappearance sets off this noirish thriller with echoes of Hitchcock and Highsmith, starring Sam Riley and Stacey Martin.
Late Shift Late Shift
Drama 2025 91 mins Director: Petra Volpe
Gripping drama in which a nurse finds herself caught in a race against time during an unrelenting night shift.
Along Came Love Along Came Love
Drama 2023 124 mins Director: Katell Quillévéré
Two lovers become entwined while both harbouring deep secrets and shame, in this epic postwar romance.
The Outrun The Outrun
Drama 2024 118 mins Director: Nora Fingscheidt
Saoirse Ronan gives a bracing performance as a young recovering alcoholic returning home to Orkney in this moving adaptation of Amy Liptrot’s memoir.
Desire: The Carl Craig Story Desire: The Carl Craig Story
Documentary 2024 91 mins Director: Jean-Cosme Delaloye
An intimate portrait of legendary techno producer, DJ and record label creator Carl Craig and an ode to his beloved city, Detroit.
The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner
Documentary 1975 46 mins Director: Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog’s moving portrait of a record-breaking ski jumper.
Dragon's Return Dragon's Return
Drama 1968 85 mins Director: Eduarda Grecnera
A reclusive potter nicknamed ‘Dragon’, exiled from his isolated homestead, returns years later, aiming to win back the trust of the villagers.
Battleship Potemkin (Music by Pet Shop Boys) Battleship Potemkin (Music by Pet Shop Boys)
Historical drama 1925 75 mins Director: Sergei M. Eisenstein
Marking the centenary of Sergei Eisenstein’s landmark film, with thrilling music by Pet Shop Boys.
The Ice Storm The Ice Storm
Comedy 1997 113 mins Director: Ang Lee
An impressive ensemble cast populate Ang Lee’s riveting portrait of family life in 1970s America.
Chicken Town Chicken Town
Comedy 2025 90 mins Director: Richard Bracewell
Two old schoolfriends join forces with an elderly neighbour to fence a shed full of weed, in this sprightly, easy-going British comedy.
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf Les Amants du Pont-Neuf
Drama 1991 126 mins Director: Léos Carax
A homeless addict (Denis Lavant) and a young painter (Juliette Binoche) with failing eyesight forge a bond on the streets of Paris.
Pharaoh Pharaoh
Historical drama 1965 146 mins Director: Jerzy Kawalerowicz
Dazzling epic, in which the young Pharaoh Ramses XIII clashes with Egypt's clergy over influence on the affairs of the state and its coffers.