Cinema Poetry 14 - Land of Silence and Darkness

Cinema Poetry is a video blog devoted to bringing you some of the most poetic scenes and sequences in the history of cinema. So far, "cinema poetry" has meant visual poetry, sonic poetry, or rhythmic poetry. This time, I offer a clip that has what appears to be an unremarkable visual style but seeks a level of spiritual understanding left untouched by many filmmakers. If you know the work of Werner Herzog, then you won't be surprised. This comes from one of his earliest films, 1971's Land of Silence and Darkness, which follows the life of Fini Straubinger as she visits and seeks rights and recognition for people who, like her, are both blind and deaf. She can talk, but those wishing to communicate with her must spell words into her hand. She speaks of spiritual matters, rides in an airplane, feeds an elephant, touches cacti, and meets people like Vladimir, 22, who never learned to communicate, but tightly hugs a radio to feel its vibrations. In this final scene, which begins and ends with two lovely poetic long takes, she visits a man named Heinrich Fleischmann. Herzog respects his audience enough to allow them to read the scene however they wish, and I will extend the same courtesy to you. Enjoy.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Land
• of
• Silence
• and
• Darkness
• Werner
• Herzog
• Deaf
• Blind
• Cinema
• Poetry

[enantios]

Thanks, that was very moving. Would you happen to know what the music is? perhaps Schubert?

[amt253]

Music credits in the film list J.S. Bach and Vivaldi, but not Schubert. My guess is that this is an orchestration of a slow movement from Bach, as Vivaldi is generally more lively. If it is Schubert, it is uncredited Schubert. That's all the info I can find. Does anyone else know?

[mrsHimalayan]

@enantios Hallo, if you are still interested in the title of the music, it's "Air" by J.S.Bach. By the way: I know the whole film, not only a few parts of it, and it's really very moving. From time to time there are subtitles in it, and the last one says:"If there was a third world war, I wouldn't even realize."

[toenailtree]

I think it might be Arvo Part.....?