Heart of Glass

Stars: Josef Bierbichler, Stefan Guttler, Clemens Scheitz. German director Werner Herzog's theme has remained pretty much constant over the years: a lone man searches for meaning and/or success in an (as he gradually discovers) vast and indifferent universe. But it's the stories Herzog creates to explore his theme that are so wonderful--a man determined to bring opera to the jungle (Fitzcarraldo), a German emigrant who goes looking for the American Dream and finds a nightmare (Stroszek), a Spanish conquistador maniacally driven to find the lost city of El Dorado (Aguirre, the Wrath of God), etc. Now, in Heart of Glass, he gives us a psychic named Hias (Josef Bierbichler) who questions the meaning of existence while his town is on the verge of coming apart. The problem in Hias's pre-industrial German village is that Muhlbeck, the head honcho of the glassworks died, and took the secret of making ruby glass with him to his grave. The idea that the village has actually lost what was once knowledge is unsettling to the inhabitants (it's like in the game of civilization they dropped the ball and might somehow be held accountable). Magic, murder, and mayhem are all employed in the quest to regain the secret of the ruby glass. Interestingly, Herzog (who doesn't take filmmaking lightly) actually had his actors put into hypnotic trances to heighten the effect of confusion and stupor which has overtaken the village. Unfortunately, many of the actors look as if they've wandered in off one of George Romero's Dead sets. In short, Heart of Glass is pretty, but also screwy. Audience: Fans of the mighty Herzog, natch. Note: The back cover carries a "Premiere Recommends" sticker.