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Land of Silence and Darkness
Werner Herzog’s profound and deeply moving documentary about the experiences of a community of deaf-blind people.
Director: Werner Herzog
Overview
In one of Werner Herzog’s most significant films, which established him as a director of incisive documentaries as well distinctive narrative films, the German filmmaker follows the experiences of a community of deaf-blind people, and in particular the remarkable character of Fini Straubinger.
As the film charts the group’s various explorations of sensations that they can enjoy, from the joys of food to riding in airplanes, what emerges is much more than just a fascinating documentary about the deaf-blind, and nothing less than a powerful statement about the human condition.
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