Heracles

Already in his debut film, Werner Herzog was looking for the extreme, for inordinate human feats involving great risks, for situations in which heroism and madness are inextricably linked. The 19-year-old Herzog produced and directed Herakles all by himself. He financed his first film by making money as a welder. In twelve minutes, Herzog connects black-and-white archival footage of the Le Mans racing accident, in which dozens of people died when a race car went off the track, with images of German bodybuilders. Their exercises and poses are a striking comment on the human penchant for challenge and glory. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)