Editors: Werner Herzog will speak in a public forum in Benson Earth Sciences Building, Thursday, Sept. 21, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., in room 180. He also will speak at a public showing of two of his films, Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. in Muenzinger Auditorium.
World-renowned German film director Werner Herzog will visit the University of Colorado at Boulder campus Sept. 19-21 as a guest of the "World Affairs Athenaeum" program.
While on campus Herzog will visit classes to talk with students and attend a formal dinner where he will speak on "The Artist as Spiritual Visionary." He also will give a public forum titled "Burdens and Dreams: A Conversation about Film, Opera, History and Literature with Werner Herzog," on Thursday, Sept. 21, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Benson Earth Sciences Building, room 180.
To start off his visit, Herzog will speak at a public showing of two of his films "Lessons in Darkness" and "Little Dieter Learns to Fly," on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. in the Muenzinger Auditorium on campus.
Herzog, who recently attended the Telluride Film Festival, has been described as one of the most eccentric figures in the New German Cinema. In what is considered his best internationally known film "Aguirre: The Wrath of God," a conquistador, played by Klaus Kinski, ends up adrift and alone on a raft on a jungle river.
Another of Herzog聮s well-known films is the documentary "My Best Friend," in which he retraces the story of his relationship with Klaus Kinski, the late German actor who did five films with Herzog. This film has been compared to the 1991 behind the scenes documentary "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker聮s Apocalypse," which focused on the making of "Apocalypse Now," directed by Frances Ford Coppola.
"Werner Herzog is a filmmaker who explores unusual and eccentric characters," said Jim Palmer, associate professor of film studies and director of the World Affairs conference. "His work is very cross disciplinary, which is perfect for the Athenaeum program, which has the goal of getting students from different colleges and departments together with visitors."
The Athenaeum, launched in February 2000, is an extension of the annual springtime World Affairs Conference and is designed to create a more intimate setting for visitors and students to meet and discuss world affairs and new ideas. The program聮s goal is to bring two to three guests each semester to campus.
"We are thrilled to have Werner Herzog on campus," said Hadley Evans, one of the two student fellows responsible for pulling together all of the Athenaeum events. "It is not every day students get to meet and talk with a world-renowned film director."
The Athenaeum will bring other guests to campus during the 2000-2001 school year. For more information about the Athenaeum call (303) 492-2525.