Land of Silence and Darkness

Werner Herzog's 1971 documentary focuses on the extraordinary Fini Straubinger, a Bavarian woman who became blind and deaf during her teen years and was subsequently confined to her home by her mother for 30 years. Returning to the outside world after the prolonged isolation, Straubinger makes up for lost time through both vigorous explorations of the outside world and by working with those who face similar physical afflictions. Whether she is undergoing new experiences, such as her first trip in an airplane, or rediscovering simple lost joys such as a visit to a petting zoo, Straubinger embraces life with a sense of wonder and courage (there is no room in her world for self-pity or angst). Herzog's fly-on-the-wall approach to Straubinger's story is never played for sentimental or exploitative purposes, indeed it feels as if Straubinger is the master storyteller here, not Herzog, which is a dual paean both to the woman's will to persevere in the face of monumental adversity and to the filmmaker's brilliant handling of his marvelous subject. Originally shot on 16mm and rather long in the tooth, the DVD transfer is so-so at best (a booklet is the only extra), but the content outweighs the presentation here. Highly recommended. (P. Hall)