Cave Of Forgotten Dreams
Documentary in which Werner Herzog descends into the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc cave in France’s Ardèche region. Scientists discovered 36,000-year-old cave paintings in this cave.
For thousands of years, the cave was completely sealed off by a fallen rock face. In 1994, scientists discovered the caverns, and found hundreds of pristine paintings within, spectacular works of art dating back to a time when Neanderthals still roamed the earth and cave bears, mammoths and lions were the dominant animal species in Europe.
Aware of the special value of the oldest known works of art made by man, the French government immediately banned access to the cave, except for a few archaeologists and palaeontologists. Werner Herzog was the first filmmaker given permission to accompany them on a limited number of occasions. Herzog accompanies the footage with his characteristic nasal voice and treats us to philosophical reflections on the relationship between the paintings and cinema, and between the cave dwellers and modern man. Dutch cellist Ernst Reijseger, who also plays at Musica Sacra 2025, composed the beautiful score. (jc)