Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe

The title is pretty self-explanatory. Acclaimed eccentric director Werner Herzog once made a promise to his friend Errol Morris that if he finished his film Gates of Heaven, he would eat his shoes. Mixed with footage from old Charlie Chaplin scenes and interviews from the director in his almost-youth, Les Blank creates a documentary that not shows Herzog eating his cooked shoes, but also discussing problems with society.



This is a curio that is highly sought after although being a special feature on the Criterion release of Burden of Dreams. The scenes of Herzog dictating his beliefs on Capitalism and such are increasingly engaging and only adds to the enigma that is Herzog. As shown in his acting role in Julien Donkey-Boy, Werner is an accomplished anything but that will soon be put to the test as the release date of his Bad Lieutenant remake starring Nicholas Cage looms closer.


Werner Herzog is a bold director and humanitarian. His visions on film have shocked thousands and moved millions. It's no surprise that watching him eat his own shoe would be of an entertaining essence, but it is a greater surprise that he is so charismatic about the whole deal and continues to view life with such a wide-eye; similar to his camera methods.

-mAQ