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Ballad of a Righteous Merchant

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Catalogue Number:  TVP093
Producer:  Video Project, Inc.
Subject:  Biography, Documentary, Media and Communications, Social Media
Language:  English
Grade Level:  9 - 12, Adult
Country Of Origin:  United States
Copyright Year:  2019
Running Time:  62:13


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Werner Herzog is one of the most celebrated global filmmakers of the past century, responsible for heralded works of cinema such as Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Grizzly Man. A fresh and candid glimpse of one of the great masters of cinema at work by longtime friend and collaborator, Ballad of a Righteous Merchant chronicles the making of Herzog's modern classic My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done, which stars Michael Shannon, Willem Dafoe, and Chloë Sevigny.

That film was inspired by the true story of an actor who murdered his mother. Ballad of a Righteous Merchant explores the process through which this event, for which an ancient myth was the catalyst, is transformed into fiction. Building on the legacy of previous documentaries about Herzog, this one shows a side of him known only to his friends and close collaborators. Refreshingly candid and surprisingly revealing, this portrait in no way diminishes the revered director's mystique. Rather, it deepens appreciation of his humanity and offers as much an ongoing conversation with the viewer as with Herzog. The film is an insider's insight into his enduring and unmistakable craft.

With humor and warmth to match its philosophical insights, Ballad of a Righteous Merchant explores some of the deepest and most abiding themes of Herzog's films through this unique chronicling of one of his most idiosyncratic works.

** Program not available for sale to Post Secondary institutions. **

 

WINNER
Milan International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema, Best Director of a Feature Documentary; Best Feature Documentary
London International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema, Best Story
Depth of Field International Film Festival, Award of Excellence
DaVinci International Film Festival, Viruvian Award; Leo Award
Amsterdam Film Festival, Van Gogh Award, Grand Jury Prize
Mexico International Film Festival, Best Feature Documentary
Docs Without Borders Film Festival, Award for Excellence in Directing
International Documentary Festival of Ierapetra, International Documentary Feature Award
Madrid International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema, Best Director of a Feature Documentary
Vienna Independent Film Festival, Best Feature Documentary
Prague Independent Film Festival, Best Documentary
DOC LA, Best Documentary Profile Award
Nottingham International Film Festival, Best Documentary
Canada Independent Film Festival
North Europe International Film Festival, Best Cinematography in a Documentary
South Europe International Film Festival, Best Story
West Europe International Film Festival, Best Director of a Feature Documentary
Gulf of Naples Independent Film Festival, Best Directing
Solaris Film Festival, Best Documentary
East Europe International Film Festival, Best Feature Documentary; Best of the Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Montreal World Film Festival/Festival des Films du Monde
International Peloponnisos Documentary Festival
DocuWest
Indpendent Filmmakers Showcase
American Documentary Film Festival
Blow-Up International Arthouse Film Festival
Virginia Film Festival
Oxford International Film Festival
Manchester International Film Festival
Ibiza Cinefest


 

"Might be a worthwhile addition for collections with a focus on filmmaking, film history, and documentary films." — Educational Media Reviews Online
"A stunning documentary film" — Filmfocus
"Enjoyable and insightful. Anyone who loves Werner's films and interested in cinema, thinking, and creation will love this" — Ramin Bahrani, filmmaker

FILMMAKER'S STATEMENT: "It is a portrait of one of the great masters of cinema at work." -Herbert Golder


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