–noun
| 1. | a person's greatest piece of work, as in an art. |
| 2. | anything done with masterly skill |
| 3. | a consummate example of skill or excellence of any kind |
The Masterpieces is an ongoing list of the greatest achievements in cinema from around the world. The only requirement is that no movie released in the last year can be added. These are the films that set the highest standards for their art form and respective genres. They can be important socially and universally or they can resonate on a deeply personal level or they can simply be incredibly entertaining.
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The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
Written & Directed by Werner Herzog
"Do you hear that screaming all around us? The screaming that man calls silence"
When the film opens up with this quote on screen, along with an image of a wheat field swaying in the wind, without a sound, you realize you are in for a profound cinematic experience. Courtesy of one of the world's best film makers, Werner Herzog (the self proclaimed "soldier of cinema"), The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser is a film that will get you every way a film can. It will grab your heart, engage your mind and enrich your soul.
The story is of Kaspar Hauser, a man who has been raised in isolation, without having ever seen another person. His mysterious keeper, a man who keeps him fed and chained in a make shift prison, eventually lets him out. He teaches Kaspar to stand and walk, and to write. The man then brings Kaspar to a nearby village, and leaves him standing in the middle of town, alone, with a letter firmly grasped in his left hand, the bible and his hat in his right hand. The letter explains who Kaspar is and that he should be put to use as seen fit. He quickly becomes the object of the townspeople's curiosity. In some cases, people become emotionally attached to him, others ridicule him. The more important figures of the town regard him as an interesting scientific specimen and take notes on him as if he is some sort of discovery to be analysed, not a real human being to be understood.
A family takes him into their home and, along with other people, teach him how to live. Eventually Kaspar is introduced to the workings of society. At this point, he is able to adequately articulate himself. He finds so many traditions and rules bizarre. It is here that he begins to make observations and make incredible statements. When seated at a table with an older woman, he asks, "why do the women only cook and clean?". She tells him to ask the men. He finds this social standing unnatural and confusing. How is it that such an uncivilized man seems so much more civil than those raised in society.
When Kaspar is introduced to music, and listens to another man playing piano, he proclaims "the music, it feels strong in my heart". Kaspar is so pure and untainted, it is emotionally revelatory. He is the most endearing human subject in all of cinema.
He is told again and again that he is wrong, and must adjust to the society he finds absurd. In most cases, he seems wiser and more thoughtful then the people trying to teach him. One man performs a test of logic on Kaspar. He tells him there are two villages. One made completely of liars, and the other made completely of people who tell only the truth. The man asks Kaspar, if he was to meet a man outside of the villages, how could you find out which village the man was from. The man performing the test says there is only one logical answer. Of course the answer Kaspar gives is not that one answer, but it is a more clever one. The man says he fails the test. Through Kaspar Hauser's observations, we see the flaws and stupidity of our civilization. It is a film that will capture your heart but also infuriate you.
Herzog's use of image is as always incredible, but what stands out is his casting of Bruno S. for the lead. Bruno S. was a street musician who had spent much of his life in and out of mental institutions. The performance that Herzog gets out of Bruno is nothing short of earth shattering. So inspired by this man he had discovered, Herzog would go on to write a screenplay for him in three days which would become the film, Stroszek, a film as revered as The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser.
After being taught reading, writing, speaking, manners, and piano, Kasper becomes somewhat of a legend. It isn't long before important people from all over want to meet him. A big, formal social gathering is held for people to meet this incredible man. Kaspar is to perform a Mozart sonata on the piano for all those attending. It is a crude attempt, as he fails to play it properly. Nonetheless, the music feels strong in my heart.
"Do you hear that screaming all around us? The screaming that man calls silence"
When the film opens up with this quote on screen, along with an image of a wheat field swaying in the wind, without a sound, you realize you are in for a profound cinematic experience. Courtesy of one of the world's best film makers, Werner Herzog (the self proclaimed "soldier of cinema"), The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser is a film that will get you every way a film can. It will grab your heart, engage your mind and enrich your soul.
The story is of Kaspar Hauser, a man who has been raised in isolation, without having ever seen another person. His mysterious keeper, a man who keeps him fed and chained in a make shift prison, eventually lets him out. He teaches Kaspar to stand and walk, and to write. The man then brings Kaspar to a nearby village, and leaves him standing in the middle of town, alone, with a letter firmly grasped in his left hand, the bible and his hat in his right hand. The letter explains who Kaspar is and that he should be put to use as seen fit. He quickly becomes the object of the townspeople's curiosity. In some cases, people become emotionally attached to him, others ridicule him. The more important figures of the town regard him as an interesting scientific specimen and take notes on him as if he is some sort of discovery to be analysed, not a real human being to be understood.
A family takes him into their home and, along with other people, teach him how to live. Eventually Kaspar is introduced to the workings of society. At this point, he is able to adequately articulate himself. He finds so many traditions and rules bizarre. It is here that he begins to make observations and make incredible statements. When seated at a table with an older woman, he asks, "why do the women only cook and clean?". She tells him to ask the men. He finds this social standing unnatural and confusing. How is it that such an uncivilized man seems so much more civil than those raised in society.
When Kaspar is introduced to music, and listens to another man playing piano, he proclaims "the music, it feels strong in my heart". Kaspar is so pure and untainted, it is emotionally revelatory. He is the most endearing human subject in all of cinema.
He is told again and again that he is wrong, and must adjust to the society he finds absurd. In most cases, he seems wiser and more thoughtful then the people trying to teach him. One man performs a test of logic on Kaspar. He tells him there are two villages. One made completely of liars, and the other made completely of people who tell only the truth. The man asks Kaspar, if he was to meet a man outside of the villages, how could you find out which village the man was from. The man performing the test says there is only one logical answer. Of course the answer Kaspar gives is not that one answer, but it is a more clever one. The man says he fails the test. Through Kaspar Hauser's observations, we see the flaws and stupidity of our civilization. It is a film that will capture your heart but also infuriate you.
Herzog's use of image is as always incredible, but what stands out is his casting of Bruno S. for the lead. Bruno S. was a street musician who had spent much of his life in and out of mental institutions. The performance that Herzog gets out of Bruno is nothing short of earth shattering. So inspired by this man he had discovered, Herzog would go on to write a screenplay for him in three days which would become the film, Stroszek, a film as revered as The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser.
After being taught reading, writing, speaking, manners, and piano, Kasper becomes somewhat of a legend. It isn't long before important people from all over want to meet him. A big, formal social gathering is held for people to meet this incredible man. Kaspar is to perform a Mozart sonata on the piano for all those attending. It is a crude attempt, as he fails to play it properly. Nonetheless, the music feels strong in my heart.
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