Pilgrimage

Pretty useless, just shots of pilgrim processions that aren't that interesting and no narration or interpretation at all.

What's neat about this short film is the weight it carries despite its lack of exposition. The images tell a story, one of religious ideology taken to self-harming extremes (walking on ones knees over rough stone for miles looks agonizing). But I wanted more. I wish Herzog would make a feature length documentary about religious pilgrimages because it's fascinating stuff.

'Bells from the deep: Part 2'. A haunting combination of music and image. Herzog once again succeeds in portraying spirituality as both pitiable and enviable. It should read, 'a film by Herzog and Tavener'.

I'm not usually one to let my atheism colour my aesthetic reactions, but here I found the juxtaposition and seeming conflation of the beauty of nature with the stupidity of self-mutilation for religious reasons odious and at times physically repulsive. I actually wish I hadn't watched this, it made me feel awful.

Too many overlong shots, the cutting room floor was grossly underused in this film. Herzog shows some scenes of real life you may not have seen before, but fails to make any comment of his own or provoke much thought.

Jesus!