Aguirre, the Wrath of God

Lore & Background

The film uses a minimalist approach to story and dialogue to evoke madness and folly, set against the lush but unforgiving Amazonian jungle. Although loosely based on the historical Lope de Aguirre, Herzog acknowledged years after release that the storyline is a work of fiction. Some people and situations may have been inspired by missionary Gaspar de Carvajal's account of an earlier Amazonian expedition, though Carvajal never accompanied Aguirre.

Herzog wrote the screenplay in two-and-a-half days during a bus trip with his football team. The film was shot entirely on location in the Peruvian rainforest over five weeks, with the cast and crew climbing mountains, cutting through vines, and riding rapids on rafts built by local craftworkers. Kinski's rage terrorized both the crew and locals, and Herzog and Kinski clashed throughout filming over how the role should be played.

The plot follows a 1560 expedition led by Gonzalo Pizarro, who sends a scouting party downriver. Aguirre leads a mutiny, proclaims a new leader, and the group slowly succumbs to starvation, fever, and attacks. In the end, all except Aguirre are killed, and he deliriously imagines conquering the New World with his slain daughter.

Reader's Guide

Aguirre, the Wrath of God opened to widespread critical acclaim and quickly developed a large international cult following. It was given an extensive arthouse theatrical release in the United States in 1977 and remains one of Herzog's best-known films. Several critics have declared the film a masterpiece, and it has appeared on Time magazine's list of 'All Time 100 Best Films'. The film is famous for its difficult production, including an arduous five-week shoot in the Peruvian rainforest. It is the first of five collaborations between Herzog and Kinski, and its soundtrack was composed by kosmische musik band Popol Vuh.

Did You Know?

• Herzog wrote the screenplay in two-and-a-half days during a bus trip with his football team.
• The film was shot entirely on location in the Peruvian rainforest over five weeks.
• Klaus Kinski's rage terrorized both the crew and locals assisting the production.
• The film's iconic ending—with Aguirre alone on a circling raft—was always Herzog's intended conclusion, contrary to rumors of an alternate open-ocean ending.