Encounters at the End of the World

 

(2007) Written and Directed by Werner Herzog; Starring: Werner Herzog, Scott Rowland, Stefan Pashov, Doug MacAyeal, Ryan Andrew Evans, Kevin Emery, Olav T. Oftedal and Regina Eisert; Available on Blu-ray and DVD. 

Rating: **** 

“…Every single mechanic – highly professional. Every scientist – cutting edge of science, every cook who comes there, a dishwasher, are highly motivated people, sometimes you would find a retired judge who is doing the dishes… in the galley, and you know people who are working out there who have completely different and wonderful biographies.” – Werner Herzog (from Blu-ray Commentary)

How many of us have hoped, at one time or another, that we could relocate to some remote part of the planet, and disengage from the rest of society? On account of its distance from everything else and its brutal, unforgiving climate, the continent of Antarctica is the next best thing to living on an alien planet. Filmmaker Werner Herzog, who’s no stranger to traveling where others fear to tread, set his sights on the mysterious continent. Encounters at the End of the World visits one of the most unspoiled places on Earth, and the extraordinary individuals who call Antarctica home (at least, temporarily).

Herzog’s primary destination is the U.S. research base, McMurdo Station, the largest establishment on the continent. Looking more like a wild west mining town rather than a base for scientific research, McMurdo is comprised of multiple squat buildings, surrounded by a horde of bulldozers and other heavy equipment. An essential prerequisite for everyone who visits the base is “Snow School,”* a crash course in survival amidst the unforgiving Antarctic climate. In one exercise, several individuals are tied together by rope, shambling about with buckets on their heads. There’s a method to their madness, however, as it reasonably simulates an environment where snowstorms can be so fierce that you’re unable to see your hand in front of your face. It’s a comical sight to see them lose their way and become tangled in their own lifeline, but the lesson is deadly serious. They are acquiring skills that will keep them alive, learning to navigate through touch and coordinating together for a common goal. 

* Not-So-Fun-Fact #1: Herzog was almost seriously injured when, during survival training, he was thrown from his snowmobile, and the 800-pound vehicle rolled over him. He ended up with an injured hand, but surprisingly, no broken bones.

Who would want to live there? Herzog introduces us to an assortment of individuals who might appear as misfits to some yet find a singular purpose at the south pole. Meet Scott Rowland, a former Colorado-based banker who now drives a heavy wheeled transport dubbed “Ivan the Terra Bus.” He left his cushy, high-paying job because, in his words, “there was more to life than money.” We also hear from Philosopher/forklift-driver Stefan Pashov, a Bulgarian immigrant with a PhD in Philosophy who “fell in love with the world” through his experience. Another fascinating person is David Pacheco,* a journeyman plumber whom Herzog referred to as the “quintessential Antarctic man.” He’s amiable and soft-spoken, with strong ties to his mixed Apache and Mayan heritage, and an indispensable team member. But it’s not all work and no play at the bottom of the world, as demonstrated by computer expert/world traveler Karen Joyce, who performs in a talent show with her “human luggage” act. Reminding us that no creature comfort is trivial, Herzog speaks with cook/filmmaker Ryan Evans who maintains the soft serve ice cream machine called “Frosty Boy.”** It’s the little things in life (or the absence thereof) that make a difference.   

* Not-So-Fun-Fact #2: According to Herzog, Pacheco suffered a serious industrial accident not long after filming, when he was electrocuted.   

** Fun Fact #1: In his commentary, Herzog admitted being hooked on the frozen dessert, despite its questionable nutritional value.

Without being a “nature” documentary per se, Encounters at the End of the World provides a glimpse of the incredible diversity of life that thrive under such inhospitable conditions (at least to us frail humans). Herzog follows a biologist embarking on his final Antarctic dive before he passes the torch to younger scientists. Preparing to plunge into the 28-degree (Fahrenheit) water is akin to suiting up for space, requiring multiple layers of protection. Underneath the polar ice* we’re treated to a beautiful array of life that manages to thrive in one of the harshest environments, including brittle stars, graceful jellyfish and curious seals. In another segment the soundtrack comes alive with the remarkable sounds produced by seals swimming beneath the ice. Their unearthly calls seem more like alien transmissions from another planet rather than the utterances of sea mammals. Herzog didn’t want his film to be another March of the Penguins with cuddly depictions of the waddling birds. Despite his vows to steer away from the ubiquitous critters, he talks with biologist David Ainley, who seems to relate more with the penguins in the colony he’s studied for the past 15 years, compared to his human colleagues. In one oddly poetic scene, Herzog focuses on a lone penguin that chooses not to follow its companions. Instead, it wanders off into the vast empty landscape, presumably to its imminent demise. 

* Fun Fact #2: Producer Henry Kaiser, an experienced research diver, provided the stunning underwater footage.

In a land that is inherently unpredictable, the only constant is that Antarctica can kill you in countless ways. This point is illustrated by volcanologist William McIntosh, perched atop the 12,500-foot summit of Mt. Erebus, an active volcano. McIntosh provides a terrifying description of how to avoid “lava bombs,” which intermittently spew from the volcano’s depths (never turn your back on them, and step out of the way). We witness one of the accidental monuments to human exploration and hubris, with the remnants of Ernest Shackleton’s doomed 1908 expedition. Shackleton’s hut remains intact with articles of clothing and tinned food perfectly preserved, as if awaiting his team of explorers to return.  

Encounters at the End of the World is as much about the people who choose to live and work in one of the world’s most unforgiving environments as it is about the sights and sounds of Antarctica’s icy landscape. In many ways, these individuals mirror Herzog’s own career, as a fiercely independent filmmaker who consistently follows the beat of his own drum, approaching each subject with insatiable curiosity. In one reflective moment following his visit to Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Herzog muses about what future civilizations might think of the artifacts we left behind, implying that our time on this planet is limited. It’s an oddly comforting epitaph, knowing there’s still one place on Earth that remains (mostly) unspoiled by human intervention and will likely outlast us.   

 

Source for this article: Blu-ray commentary by Werner Herzog, Henry Kaiser (Producer), and Peter Zeitlinger (Cinematographer)