Heart of Glass (film)

Infobox Film
name = Heart of Glass


caption = "Heart of Glass" DVD cover
director = Werner Herzog
producer = Werner Herzog
writer = Werner Herzog
editing = Beate Mainka-Jellinghaus
country = West Germany
cinematography = Jörg Schmidt-Reitwein
starring = Josef Bierbichler
Stefan Güttler
Clemens Scheitz
Sonja Skiba
music = Popol Vuh
released = December 17, 1976 (West Germany)
runtime = 94 min.
language = German (Bavarian)
imdb_id = 0074626

"Heart of Glass" ( _de. Herz aus Glas) is a 1976 film written, directed, and produced by Werner Herzog, set in 18th century Bavaria. The main character is "Hias," based on the legendary Bavarian prophet Mühlhiasl.

Plot synopsis

The setting is an 18th century Bavarian town with a glass blowing factory which produces a brilliant red "ruby glass." When the master glass blower dies, the secret to producing the ruby glass is lost, and the town gradually sinks into disorder and madness. The main character is Hias, a seer from the hills, who speaks prophecy to the townspeople.

Production

During shooting, almost all of the actors performed while under hypnosis. Every actor in every scene was hypnotized, with the exception of the character Hias, and the professional glassblowers who appear in the film. The hypnotized actors give very odd performances, giving a very uncommon stylization to the acting. Much of the mysterious dialog of the film was ad libbed by the actors while under hypnosis. [Werner Herzog, DVD commentary for "Heart of Glass"]

The majority of the film was shot in Bavaria, just miles from where Herzog was born and raised. Other brief shots (without any of the cast in them) were filmed in various locations around the world that Herzog scouted out, among the locations was Yellowstone National Park. The conclusion of the film was shot on the Skellig Islands.

Herzog, along with other members of the crew, has a cameo as one of the men carrying a load of ruby glass to the river.

Importance of Film

Werner Herzog is legitimately regarded as among the geniuses of the revival of German film in the 1970s. Since this period his work has continued to be highly regarded. [http://movies.propeller.com/story/2007/11/28/roger-ebert-a-letter-to-werner-herzog] . Heart of Glass is among the best-known films from his formative period.

References

* "Heart of Glass" (Skellig Edition, 1976) by Alan Greenberg, including the screenplay by Werner Herzog. English adaptation by Alan Greenberg, with b&w photos by Alan Greenberg.

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074626/ IMDB entry]
* [http://www.dvdfile.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1796 DVD review (dvdfile.com)]