Well, this was a lot of work! I really hope you enjoy this deep dive into the work of one of my favorite filmmakers, and I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the longer format! Are there any other directors that would be interesting for a video like this?

I've met Herzog in 2018 during a panel talk at the DOK Leipzig and he talked about the scene in 24:31 when the two men are crawling on the ice. He said that they met these guys during the production in a local bar a day before shooting the scene mentioned above. Both were absolutely drunk (sorry Russians for this stereotype coming true again) and where asked to crawl about the ice for the documentary. They agreed and appeared (again strongly drunken) on the next day to the lake. In the very end of the scene one stops crawling and lays on the ice. Herzog discovered that this guy simply fell asleep because of his intoxication

37:01 -- My favorite moment of his Ecstatic Truth is this rogue penguin in Encounters At The End Of The World. As the penguin wanders away from its colony towards the distant mountains, possibly towards certain death, Werner's voice-over comes in with a single simple question delivered with such immense curiosity: "BUT WHY!?" That image of the penguin coupled with the question...it gives you a feeling of vast perspective on all living things. First off, the image is unique. No one has ever captured an image like that because why should an image like that exist? The penguin should NOT be doing that. But it IS doing that. The penguin is suddenly drawn to the great landscape like it had a stroke of inspiration to explore, which it put above the need for it's own self preservation. It has been overcome by the beauty of the world. As the image sinks in, we realize that the penguin's eccentric voyage is not unlike the rogue human settlers of Antarctica who are the main subject of the film. The moment taps into a far greater cosmic mystery behind all eccentric behavior driven by dreams, that maybe it isn't just a human trait. There's a sense of discovery, of something simultaneously unexplainable and rightfully stirring to the soul. The image is an idea that is slightly insufficient when you try to articulate in words, as I just tried. Our being witness to that penguin opened a door, allowing us to feel an idea that is greater than the sum of the information received. Ecstatic Truth is poetry witnessed.

"We have to articulate ourselves, otherwise we would be cows in a field." What a beautiful way to end it :)

I can't believe I only watched this now. This was amazing and it made me realize again what true cinema is and why I fell in love with it. After being bombarded with frustrating mainstream movies, social media, and other forms of visual distractions I feel like I found my way back. Thank you!

This is perhaps the best investigation and academic look into Herzog's work on KZfaq. Literally, tears in my eyes. To call yourself a 'fan' and not a student is an understatement.

This is the best reason for KZfaq to exist. Thank you ❤️

I think of Werner Herzog as showing me the dreams of people i will never meet.

No one can talk about crazy filmmakers without talking about the man, the myth, the legend, Werner Herzog. Great to see a video like this one.

"But they serve to communicate a different kind of truth(...) He is not interested in their facts. He is interested in their dreams" I couldn't ever forget this line as long as I draw breath. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for performing such a marvelous essay on this outstanding artist and human.

I'm going through a difficult time in my life (is there ever any non difficult time?) and this work of yours has just helped put a lot of stuff into perspective. Its radiant with ecstatic truth.

I think this has become my absolute favorite KZfaq channel. You dig deep.

Right when I feel like I'm giving up hope you give me this and I feel Herzog smile at the humanity of my despair. Thank you.

This is my favorite KZfaq video and every once in a while I feel compelled to revisit it. It talks about truth and there is much, much truty within it.

I hope you don’t find this patronising, but you can really tell how much you’ve grown as a creator with this. I loved how you gave us a minute at the end without voiceover to feel and experience for ourselves the ecstatic truth Herzog described. What an incredibly rewarding insight into one of the most ambitious and disparate filmographies out there. Thank you, Tom. You remain my favourite creator on KZfaq. Keep it coming!

A 40 minute video!!! Thank you so much for this blessing

That's what I love so much about your videos: You're not just there to give us a brief overview of something, but talk about what it actually means, not just to you, but to anyone who sees them. Art and stories can mean so much and change people, but often people just talk about if "it's good" and nothing else. There's something inherently resonating about great art, something full of truth and personality, that deserves communication beyond the cynical. Another amazing video, thank you for putting so much time into it.

“My belief is that all these dreams are yours as well. And the only distinction between me and you is that I can articulate them.” 35:58

I keep coming back to this video. If our world dies from natural causes, then please god let the server hosting this video be one of the places in the universe that expresses something true about humainty. This is amazing Art LSOO.

I wept with joy inside while watching this today - so needed, well told, well imagined and timely for these times when we are all a little more Diogenes as we retreat quietly through quarantine from the dead imagery and noise of society. Well done.

I've always had a unconscious connection to Herzog. His images: of the paddleboat on the amazon hill, still from Aguirre Wrath of God have struck me from my first exposure as a schoolboy. He is a magical human and this wonderful documentary reveals how his magic has enriched us. Thank you!

There are very few true artists making films. Herzog is one of them. Thanks for the long work on this.

I have not seen any of his movies , but after watching the first 4 minutes of this documentary, I think he might already be my favorite director of all time. I look forward to seeing all his films and learning more about the man.

I once got to meet Herzog when he came to my university. Intimidating in all the right ways

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Beautiful. Elegant. Mesmerizing. Sublime.

This is a masterpiece in itself. I am deeply moved by the reverence you show for Herzog even as he shows reverence for the subjects of his film. Thank you.

Oh my goodness, man, this sacred level good. A holy war against the destructive of TV, the struggle to express our pure essence and be understood by others.... beautiful beyond words. Thank you!

erste klasse. I never saw Kinski happy. but really genuinely happy that way that he expressing it naturally and with no doubts about it. this was really inner child bliss shown through work of others... resembling true faith in humanity in any form.

This is a very underrated channel. You deserve a larger audience.

I carry Herzog's book, "Of walking in ice" everywhere with me.

Great. 3 days now since I've been introduced to Herzog's cinema, everyday watching a film or documentary by him. Already watched Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Fitzcarraldo and Burden of Dreams, and I am soooo in love by this man. Today, open the youtube and your latest video came upon me. Thanks for this, it was amazing.

I like narrator's voice in Like Stories of Old.

As a great fan of this wonderful film maker Werner Herzog I have seen all his films. Thank you for this great documentary.

Herzog has been important to me in a way that’s difficult to articulate ever since I first discovered him. I’ve continually been confounded and troubled and disturbed and challenged and amazed by him. My girlfriend and I love his documentaries and we consider him “our” filmmaker the same way some couples have “our” song or something, partly because Herzog himself is so incredibly interesting to witness, even hilarious. This fabricated, ecstatic truth, the nature of his documentaries and his presence in them, is exactly what makes them stand out so profoundly from others. Basically anytime I’ve seen a documentary, part of me wonders how it would’ve been had it been Herzog behind the camera. Thank you for this gorgeous, articulate video essay. Alongside Ebert’s letter to Herzog, this May be the best take I’ve seen on Herzog’s work and on the man himself

Making a career summation this calm, and at times ecstatic, is in itself a Herzogian conquest. Fantastic job.

Your taste in music is just as good as your taste in film, I appreciate to find another person who values the art they consume.

The most poetic of filmmakers. Images that always fascinate, whether it be feature or documentary. I look forward to continuing seeing more of his output, which is so diverse. What I have seen thus far gives me a good idea of the man. He is a thinker outside the box it might be said.

This is a masterpiece of a video essay. I cannot overstate how powerful and moving this was to me.

Brillant! You chose the right amount of details necessary to touch something we didn't expect. I can't imagine the agony of letting all the ideas and clips go in the process of making this moving documentary.

This was /exactly/ the sort of video that I was hoping for from this channel. Excellent work!

Love your work, especially all the videos you've covered with the representation of archetypes and Robert Moore's work. I've read and listened to a lot of his stuff and you really do an amazing job of bringing those ideas to life. Powerful stuff man, thanks for everything from Canada!

Honestly one of the most visionary videos I've seen on this platform. Bravo.

Definitely the most comprehensive Hertzog film review that one could possibly learn in 39 mins. Well researched and well presented. A model for any film review. Thank you. So happy to find your channel. subscribed.

You see the genius in Herzog's films. You have captured his true spirit in this documentary.

i dropped out of film school and i swear i learned more about documentary and truth-telling in this video than i did in all of those 2.5 years.

I really like the way you form such a well thought out critique of the films and film makers that you admire in such an articulate way while also applying obvious talent and skill to way you craft each of your documentaries.

Your videos are like a spiritual journey every time I watch one I discover something about myself that I never knew existed

Goddamn, I almost cried. Your videos are absolute works of art, and are deeply satisfying. Thanks man.

The filming technique seems similar that of Terrence Malick. I wonder if he will take over for this imporant director. This was delightful and fasinating to watch. can't wait for the next one.

I loved some of Herzog's movies so much, that it made me cry. This was a great insight into his work and mind, and I'm truly grateful for it; you reminded me how impressive and beautiful his movies are. Time for some rewatching; cheers!

Thank you so much for this gorgeous video. I've been a Patreon supporter for a while now, and this is such a great example of why I am proud to support your work.

I love Herzog. Thank you for this wonderful video.

This was an amazing experience of sensibility and deep, both of Herzog and also of whoever made the film, wrote the script weaving in the images and the narrator's soft-spoken voice.

Wow. I am excited for this. 40mins of pure awesomeness.

Thank you for your efforts LSOO. You do the world a great service with your amazing work.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS I CANT WAIT TO WATCH!

What you do is unlike anything else you can find on youtube, every single video I have watched has given me an entirely different perspective, keep it up.

thank you so much for your highly curated productions, it is really a bliss and inspiration.

Thank you for sharing this peace of art: Incredible work 🙏🙏

Fascinating and life affirming... sometimes I need to be reminded how deep and rich our world is.

The first time I saw one of your videos I thought of Werner Herzog. Your analyses are always incredible

What a gentle and beautiful portrait, Sir! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

This is so well made, thank you. I’ve seen ‘educational’ videos on KZfaq plenty of times, but never have I actually found one so directly insightful and well-pieced together. Doesn’t at all feel like you just are regurgitating online essays about the subject. What could be scholarly analysis ends up being very emotionally stirring, I think Herzog himself would appreciate that. I’m cringing at myself for writing an earnest KZfaq comment, but it felt necessary.

Brilliant as usual. I haven been one of your earliest fans. Keep it up bro. We all are storytellers. Some find the words whereas others find themselves in those words.

Beautifully made. The combination of images e music at the end, after learning all this... I had to fight back the tears.

goddamn, you managed to put everything i love about Herzog into words.his reverence for other cultures, approaching anything alien to him with genuine wonder and sincerity is so beautiful. just an unparalleled genius ... only thing i can throw on that gives me genuine faith in humanity (as much as it's possible) and - dare i say - hope for the future

Mio regista favorito.Numero UNO! Grazie per bellissimo video

Theres no one else like Werner Herzog as a director, i was lucky enough to know some of his films thru a workshop by one of his cinematographer in the 70s Jorg Schmidt Reittwein

Hey.. absolutely fantastic documentary.. thanks so much! So rare to find such quality of work on KZfaq - I find myself absurdly grateful. Truly inspiring.

This brought tears to my eyes

I just saw this video. I started to see Herzog's movies recently. I falled in love with this director. Thank to you for your job. I hope for more youtube channels like this.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. Mr. Herzog was on a podcast almost 2 years ago, but because of my ignorance I lost interest. This video brought a whole new light, and I will be listening to that podcast again with open eyes.

Well done! One of the best docs on Herzog I have seen.

This is one of the greatest documentaries on KZfaq like others have said, and it put into context why I've always loved Herzog. If I could give any human being a great big hug and thank them Itd be Werner, definitely.

i love Herzog and his films.Thanks a lot!

With this examination of Herzog and his films, I dreamed the dreams of others, and learned a little bit about ourselves. Thank you, thank you, thank you.❤

Thank you so much for this. Beautiful video. I shook Werner's hand 3 months ago and was only able to say: "Thank you for everything, sir" and he noded politely. We need to keep burning with all the poetry we can congregate. Wondeful video, impecably researched and edited.

Thank you for curating and kindling . . . passion, community and conscientious genius.

My favourite director along David Lynch and Tarkovsky, the three know what's up with modernity and I freakin love em for educating me so well. Thank you for this great video, my brother.

Hier heb je echt veel energie in gestoken, werkelijk een pronkstuk! Dank Je!

That was heavy stuff. Thx you. Minutes before this video I was watching Skateboarding tricks. Then German Tom Selleck came along. I didnt know how deeply invested was W.H Hardcore dude !

Excellent film crit. I will rewatch his films now with a completely new perspective.

What transcendingly beautiful insight and commentary on another transcendingly beautiful film-maker, your efforts shine with a reverence for poetry and deeper meaning that is perfectly fitting for a subject matter like Herzog. Thank you.

How can I even describe how beautiful this is. Thank you so much you talented man.

Wonderful work. Herzog is in there, you really captured his essence.

Bravo!! This was fantastic!!!!... I was lucky enough to attend Herzog's Rogue Film School in 2014.

There is nothing to add, but silent appreciation and gratitude for art at it's finest.

Beautiful work, thank you for putting this together.

Already posted here before.. but having watched again.. just wanted to offer heart felt thanks, appreciation and gratitude for creating such an amazingly expressive documentary. It is faultless.. speaks to the mind and the heart.. and your tireless and, I don't doubt, passionate research and understanding toward putting this together is deeply deeply appreciated. I'm not so sure there can ever have been a more fundamentally connecting vision of the works of Herzog in documentary form (perhaps in any form).. and the work is deeply humane and deeply liberating of the ideas and scope of Herzog himself.. perhaps even beyond that which Herzog could relay.. given that you have condensed his art form so well. Thank You! Given the general state of KZfaq (and audience participation) (any video that involves a cat chasing a dog receives 1.5million views within 3 weeks) You are a shining light. : )

Herzog is easily one of my favorite directors. This is a worthy tribute.

Wow - great work! I regret that it's taken me this long to finally watch it. Please keep doing what you're doing.

Bravo!! Bravo on putting this together. You captured the essence of this man’s quest.

What a gift this man is. Thank you for this.

Brilliant!! Thanks and Congratulations on the success of your hard work!!

This was incredibly beautiful and I am so glad to have stumbled upon it. Thank you.

Thank you. You have captured the essence of Herzog. Your videos never disappoint

This is the first of your videos I have seen and I loved it. Thank you.

Wow that overview was itself a masterpiece of a master film maker I'm so moved. I'm so happy I stumbled on Werner Herzog just this week. Now I want to watch everything he's made. I love how he sees the world so inspiring and so wakes me up there's more of us out there! 🌹🌋😳😱🙆🥰

Thank you so much for your contribution to society

I think the tears I get watching your videos is my reaction to the ecstatic truth you reveal in all these wonderful films. Thank you