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Grizzly Man
2005
Werner Herzog's persistent inquiry into the motivations of human obsession focuses this time on the self-proclaimed kind warrior Timothy Treadwell. A passionate wildlife preservationist and grizzly bear devotee, Treadwell lived unarmed among the grizzlies in a remote section of Alaska for 13 years, and eventually died in a bear .. Read more
| Starring | Timothy Treadwell |
|---|---|
| Director | Werner Herzog |
| Genres | Documentary |
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Grizzly Man
Werner Herzog's persistent inquiry into the motivations of human obsession focuses this time on the self-proclaimed kind warrior Timothy Treadwell. A passionate wildlife preservationist and grizzly bear devotee, Treadwell lived unarmed among the grizzlies in a remote section of Alaska for 13 years, and eventually died in a bear attack. He filmed his experiences during his final five years, and Herzog makes use of this footage in a posthumous portrait of a complex, intriguing character. A youthful blond actor turned nature lover, Treadwell is revealed over the course of the film to have been a troubled soul who found solace in the wild, and the existential questions and difficulties he faced in the world were, fascinatingly, worked out on film. Deftly interweaving Treadwell's quiet moments of nature appreciation with meandering introspection and alarmingly hostile rants, Herzog masterfully captures the enigma of the dead man. Herzog has a genuine appreciation of Treadwell's films, as well as sympathy for Treadwell's apparent ill peace with the world. Much of GRIZZLY MAN's complexity comes in our growing awareness of Timothy's apparent naivety, his need to see himself as a saviour, and his sentimentalising of nature. However, we are left with the impression of someone unafraid to follow his heart and go to any extreme even death in search of peace.
| Starring | Timothy Treadwell |
|---|---|
| Director | Werner Herzog |
| Studio | REVOLVER ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 44 mins Blu-ray: 1 hr 44 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Documentary |
| Language | DVD: English Blu-ray: English |
| Released | DVD: 01 May 2006 Blu-ray: 19 Oct 2009 Production year: 2005 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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This documentary offers an intimate window into its subject. By using Treadwell's own words, ideas and point of view, Herzog makes audiences feel as if they are poring over a video journal of a tortured soul
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Mesmerizing work of disturbing power and unease.... Herzog as bushwhacked fearlessly into one man's thorny soul
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Most helpful member's review
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37 out of 40 people found this review helpful
Great footage and surprisingly hilarious
Treadwell from the first moments of the film is shown to have a different outlook on life.
The film works great on 3 main levels, Firstly you're seeing amazing footage of bears from over 13 years of filming and footage that is shot so (insanely)close up to the bears you wonder if you will ever see this type of footage again.
Secondly Treadwell is a case study in loneliness leading to self delusion (that only he can save the bears)but puts his case with such belief its staggering.
Thirdly the film is hilarious. Treadwell seems blissfully unaware that his bizarre behaviour and some outlandish views are so laughable and the people brought on camera to talk about his character don't seem know him that well but like to be on film. I came out undertanding why he thought the wildlife and bears needed protection but ultimately his methods were more harmful than beneficial, you may come out with a totally different view. The film may not be completely to your taste though as it features Americans who display that forced sincerity and crying for camera, even the coroner can't just provide a normal report. -
Most recent members' review
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4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
bored
Should have been good, but was crap - A film about a grade A nutter running with grizzly bears disturbing their peace.
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News and features
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Encounters at the End of the World
- 20 Apr 2009
Christopher McCandless – Emile Hirsch’s character in Into the Wild – would have felt right at home among the philosopher-outsiders Werner Herzog finds in Antarctica in his latest slice of ruminative non-fiction, Encounters at the End of the World. So too might Timothy Treadwell, the doomed bear-loving anti-hero of Herzog’s documentary/horror film, Grizzly Man, or any number of the visionary explorers – like Aguirre, and Fitzcarraldo – who populate his movies. Read more
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