Encounters at the End of the World

Infobox film
name = Encounters at the End of the World


caption = Theatrical release poster
director = Werner Herzog
producer = Henry Kaiser [http://www.tiff07.ca/filmsandschedules/filmdetails.aspx?ID=706071157431293 Film details] at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival]
cinematography = Peter Zeitlinger
editing = Joe Bini
music = Henry Kaiser
David Lindley
runtime = 99 minutes
distributor = THINKFilm
country = United States
language = English
imdb_id = 1093824
website = http://encountersfilm.com

"Encounters at the End of the World" is a documentary film by Werner Herzog completed in 2007. The film studies people and places in Antarctica. The film is dedicated to American critic Roger Ebert. [Roger Ebert, [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071117/PEOPLE/71117002 A letter to Werner Herzog] ] The film was released in North America on June 11, 2008 and distributed by THINKFilm. [ [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i0e7d8449d58e7ec1ad7b5c602081c251 The Hollywood Reporter ] ]

Production

The film was shot in Antarctica as part of the National Science Foundation's Antarctic Artists and Writers Program. [ [http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/antarct/treaty/opp07001/pdf/artist_write.pdf Antarctic Artists and Writers Program] for 2006] The entire film crew consisted of Herzog, who recorded all production sound, and cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger. The two went to Antarctica without any opportunity to plan filming locations or interview subjects, and had only seven weeks to conceive and shoot their footage. Herzog often met his interview subjects only minutes before he began shooting them. [ [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080707/PEOPLE/657811251 Werner Herzog: "Tell me about the
iceberg, tell me about your dreams." :: rogerebert.com :: People ] ]

Release

The film showed at the 2007 Telluride Film Festival, [ [http://www.telluridefilmfestival.org/pdfs/34th_tff_prog_guide_FINAL.pdf Program] of the 2007 Telluride Film Festival] and had its official premiere [ [http://encountersfilm.com/page.cfm?load=times Official screening times] ] one week later on September 10 at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The film [http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/programme/show_detail.php?fi_id=465&se_id=8 showed] at 28th Mar 2008, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, for 2008 Hong Kong International Film Festival; and on April 30 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival.

Critical reception

The film received generally positive reviews from critics. As of June 13, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 96% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 24 reviews — with the consensus that the film "offers a poignant study of the human psyche amid haunting landscapes." [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10008909-encounters_at_the_end_of_the_world/ |title=Encounters at the End of the World Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=2008-06-13 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 80 out of 100, based on 25 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/encountersattheendoftheworld |title=Encounters at the End of the World (2008): Reviews |accessdate=2008-06-13 |publisher=Metacritic]

Awards

"Encounters at the End of the World" won the award for Best Documentary at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and Special Price at Planet Doc Review Festival in Warsaw (both in the same year 2008).

References

External links

* [http://encountersfilm.com/ Official site]
*imdb title|id=1093824|title=Encounters at the End of the World
*rotten-tomatoes|id=10008909-encounters_at_the_end_of_the_world|title=Encounters at the End of the World
*metacritic film|id=encountersattheendoftheworld|title=Encounters at the End of the World
*mojo title|id=encountersattheendoftheworld|title=Encounters at the End of the World
*amg movie|id=1:410795|title=Encounters at the End of the World
* [http://bigdeadplace.com/herzog.html Review] by interviewee Bill Jirsa
* [http://www.thinkfilmcompany.com/ THINKFilm]