Aguirre, Wrath of God is the greatest portrait of human descendency into madness, I think. It was a film made in less than three months, on location in the Peruvian jungles and rivers, for a modest budget of $350,000. Blessed with a phenomenal performance by Klaus Kinski (even before this rewatch, I've always said that, for onscreen physical presence, Brando pales in comparison to him), it is Herzog's most memorable vision of humanity--and that's saying something, for a genius who is quickly becoming a favourite of mine.

The Godfather, as far as American films go, was the pinnacle film of that year, with John Boorman's Deliverance not too far behind. Coincidentally, the man-at-odds-with-nature theme of that latter film shares uncanny comparisons to the Herzog film.

Mick