This amazing documentary by German filmmaker Werner Herzog has been playing at the IFC for quite some time. We recently caught it because the idea of wearing the special glasses to watch the film was not too enticing. In fact, surprisingly enough, even not seeing what is shown on the screen without them proved to be possible. In fact, we were quite surprised because as 3D presentations go, this film did not appear to be a likely candidate.
At any rate, the subject of the documentary brings the viewer to watch first hand the work of our human ancestors that lived in that part of the world thousands of years ago. The Chauvet caves in rural France are one of the most impressive discoveries in recent times. That explorers were able to access the well hidden entrance to the caves proves to be an homage to those brave men that first went into the unknown world they found in the many animal paintings that adorn the walls of the main section of the caves.
It is surprising though that no humans are depicted on those walls. There are many animals, notably horses, but no human faces were recorded by the people that engraved the images on the walls. There are bones and human remains, but we never get to see what those ancestors looked like, which in a way, would have been a great source of enlightening for our modern scientist to study.
The narration by the director is the best thing in the documentary. Cave art in all its glory has been preserved almost by miracle throughout the years because they were sealed to the world. It is unlikely the caves would have been as well conserved as they are, if other humans had the opportunity to invade them, spoiling the contents that were there for all of us to admire and appreciate.
At any rate, the subject of the documentary brings the viewer to watch first hand the work of our human ancestors that lived in that part of the world thousands of years ago. The Chauvet caves in rural France are one of the most impressive discoveries in recent times. That explorers were able to access the well hidden entrance to the caves proves to be an homage to those brave men that first went into the unknown world they found in the many animal paintings that adorn the walls of the main section of the caves.
It is surprising though that no humans are depicted on those walls. There are many animals, notably horses, but no human faces were recorded by the people that engraved the images on the walls. There are bones and human remains, but we never get to see what those ancestors looked like, which in a way, would have been a great source of enlightening for our modern scientist to study.
The narration by the director is the best thing in the documentary. Cave art in all its glory has been preserved almost by miracle throughout the years because they were sealed to the world. It is unlikely the caves would have been as well conserved as they are, if other humans had the opportunity to invade them, spoiling the contents that were there for all of us to admire and appreciate.