Film: Grizzly Man

This is Werner Herzog's critical assemblage of Timothy Treadwell's footage of himself and grizzly bears in Alaska, together with a refreshingly candid documentary analysis of the footage, the events leading up to Treadwell's death (along with that of his girlfriend) and Treadwell's reinvention of himself through the bears and his films. As the interwoven threads pull together a complex picture emerges of a deeply flawed man, but one who inspired great loyalty from the various friends interviewed.

With Herzog placing himself in the film almost as centrally as Treadwell, the potent themes of raw nature and controlled exposure can be applied to Treadwell and his girlfriend Huguenard, to the bears and foxes of Alaska, and to Herzog himself. Seeing this on the same night as Herzog's 'My Best Fiend', I also wonder about Klaus Kinski, the seemingly out-of-control shooting star of some of his best films.