Opening Conversation: Werner Herzog | DOC CONFERENCE | TIFF 2018

Werner Herzog has a reputation for engaging with intense characters, from the volcanologists in Into the Inferno to the death-row prisoners in Into the Abyss. But rarely has Herzog interviewed someone as transformative to world history as former president of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev. In Herzog's latest film, Meeting Gorbachev, which is playing at the Festival, the director retraces the decisive moments of Gorbachev's career, including Chernobyl's nuclear meltdown, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the reunification of Germany. In this Opening Conversation, TIFF Docs Programmer and Pure Nonfiction podcast host Thom Powers interviews Herzog about the making of his new film and how it fits into his body of work.

Guest
Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog was born in Munich. He has written, produced, and directed more than 50 films. His films include the TIFF selections Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (09), Cave of Forgotten Dreams (10), Into the Abyss (11), Into the Inferno (16), and Salt and Fire (16). Meeting Gorbachev (18) is his latest film.

Guest
Thom Powers
Documentary Programmer, TIFF - HOST
Powers has served as an International Documentary Programmer for the Festival since 2006. He created and leads the Festival's Doc Conference; and hosts the podcast Pure Nonfiction interviewing documentary filmmakers. He curates for the digital streaming service SundanceNOW Doc Club, and for the Miami International Film Festival. He and his wife, Raphaela Neihausen, serve as directors of DOC NYC, run the weekly documentary screening series Stranger than Fiction at Manhattan's IFC Center, and host WNYC's radio segment Documentary of the Week. Powers teaches at the School of Visual Arts MFA SocDoc program.

[subversivelysurreal]

‘-it touches me so deeply that i know that it will touch some audience out there as well’ i think that Werner Herzog just defined the psychological mentality of the artist, be she or he successful, or die trying, this belief, we all firmly possess.

[williamrobinson]

A real pleasure to see this. Thanks for posting.

[TimChuma]

The clip they are talking about with Gorbachev's elderly aunty is a precious gift "MISHKA!" and she starts crying

[krachenford]

What a hysterical announcer, and, regarding socks and shoes, colourblind.

[krachenford]

Werner Herzog hat Recht, es gibt eine russische Seele, und wir Deutsche sollten das achten und wertschätzen.

[kunsthooligan_vegan]

Grown up in East Germany, 1989 I was 15 years old, I am so grateful to Michael Gorbachev that he led the troops and tanks in the barracks. Such a man of honor. Now Russia has Putin. A Desaster. But by my experience in 1989 that things can change very fast into the good I am hopeful that there will be a friendly Russian government in the future.

[birddogfreemann]

This host is LOUSY. No depth, no flow, no intelligence to is questions. He was more concerned with coordinating red in his fashion attire.

[RolandRED]

50:26 Number 1 I shouldn't die... LEGEND