{"id":4519,"date":"2007-10-23T12:24:52","date_gmt":"2007-10-23T19:24:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4519"},"modified":"2021-07-27T10:48:18","modified_gmt":"2021-07-27T17:48:18","slug":"fata-morgana-1971","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4519","title":{"rendered":"Fata Morgana (1971)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Paradise is available to everybody. In Paradise, only God is looking on. There, you cross the sand without seeing your face.&#8221;<\/strong> <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Fata-Morgana-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Fata-Morgana-Poster-207x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-57156\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Fata-Morgana-Poster-207x300.png 207w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Fata-Morgana-Poster-705x1024.png 705w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Fata-Morgana-Poster-88x128.png 88w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Fata-Morgana-Poster-186x270.png 186w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Fata-Morgana-Poster.png 763w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 207px) 100vw, 207px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA Mayan creation myth accompanies footage shot by Werner Herzog in the Sahara Desert and other parts of Africa.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Africa<\/li>\n<li>Deserts<\/li>\n<li>German Films<\/li>\n<li>Werner Herzog Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Fata Morgana<\/em> &#8212; named after a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fata_Morgana_(mirage)\">Sicilian mirage believed to be caused by fairies<\/a> &#8212; is perhaps Werner Herzog&#8217;s most representative early work, clearly displaying his fascination with landscapes, diverse humans, and moments of unexpected quirkiness. Unfortunately, while it&#8217;s lauded by nearly every critic as an experimental masterpiece (Time Out calls it &#8220;brilliantly original, utterly haunting&#8221;), I find <em>Fata Morgana<\/em> to be three parts emperor&#8217;s clothing to one part enigmatic vision. Herzog originally set out to create a science fiction story, but abandoned this idea and ended up editing his footage into a three-part &#8220;creation story&#8221; &#8212; Creation, Paradise, and The Golden Age &#8212; which doesn&#8217;t really reveal much about any of these three topics. Instead, in characteristic Herzog-ian fashion, he seems primarily concerned with aiming his camera at random images, then holding it there for far longer than convention would imply; sometimes this works, but more often it&#8217;s simply tedious. Listening to Herzog&#8217;s commentary on the DVD illuminates much of what was going on in his mind while shooting and editing the film &#8212; but without these insights, it&#8217;s difficult to maintain interest even for 79 minutes; the images in <em>Fata Morgana<\/em> will remain with you, but the &#8220;story&#8221; &#8212; such as it is &#8212; won&#8217;t.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Some trippy desert mirages<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Mirages.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Mirages.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Mirages.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Mirages-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Mirages-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Mirages-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Disturbing shots of desiccated cattle strewn across the sand<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Cow.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Cow.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Cow.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Cow-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Cow-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Cow-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The truly odd closing shots of a pimp and a madam performing in a brothel<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Pimp-Madame.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Pimp-Madame.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Pimp-Madame.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Pimp-Madame-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Pimp-Madame-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Pimp-Madame-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many striking images of desert landscapes and peoples<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Dunes.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Dunes.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Dunes.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Dunes-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Dunes-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Dunes-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Fox.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Fox.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Fox.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Fox-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Fox-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Fox-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-City.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-City.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-City.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-City-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-City-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-City-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Kids.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Kids.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Kids.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Kids-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Kids-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Kids-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Holding-Fox.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Holding-Fox.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Holding-Fox.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Holding-Fox-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Holding-Fox-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/FM-Holding-Fox-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a look simply for its place in cinematic history. Listed as a Personal Recommendation and a film with historical importance in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0067085\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1971\/10\/08\/archives\/sounding-the-alarm-on-the-sahara-fata-morgana-bows-at-the-beaumont.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/fata-morgana\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Paradise is available to everybody. In Paradise, only God is looking on. There, you cross the sand without seeing your face.&#8221; Synopsis: A Mayan creation myth accompanies footage shot by Werner Herzog in the Sahara Desert and other parts of Africa. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Africa Deserts German Films Werner Herzog Films Review: Fata Morgana &#8212; named after a Sicilian mirage believed to be caused by fairies &#8212; is perhaps Werner Herzog&#8217;s most representative early work, clearly displaying his&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4519\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4519","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4519"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4519\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74460,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4519\/revisions\/74460"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4519"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4519"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4519"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}