Massnahmen gegen Fanatiker

Currently there is a version of Measures Against Fanatics on you-tube, which was how I got to see this short Werner Herzog film from early in his career. It's about horse racing, or rather the people who take care of the horses, and how to, apparently, protect them from the 'fanatics' of the title. Unfortunately, it's hard to really give a totally quantifiable rating to the documentary, because the version currently available, despite being in excellent picture and sound quality, has no subtitles in English (and being that I'm not up on my German much at all I could only pick out a few words here and there based on what I've heard in other movies and elsewhere).

As far as visuals go it's not bad, though there's not a whole lot Herzog can go in photographing such things like horses walking around and their protectors talking (though it is cool to see one of the horses walking around). It seems to mostly be dull even without knowing entirely what the context is usually in, but there are still some noticeable Herzogian moments, like when the one trainer or whomever proceeds to break blocks of wood with his hand. Or with the mere presence of the old man, who always seems to be interrupting the dialog the person answering is having, always with his say. The music is also ironically cheerful, which makes funny in an off-kilter sort of way.

It is worth watching, if you're a Herzog fan like I am, though knowing a little German might help add a little extra enjoyment.

Although Werner Herzog is often seen as a cold, straight faced filmmaker of existentialist dramas about the human soul, there is no denying that the man has an eccentric sense of humor that drips from many of his greatest films. In this early short, Herzog shows off his skills at comedy and satire with a brief, mockumentary style presentation of various interviews with people attempting to protect racing horses from horse fanatics, despite seeming like horse fanatics themselves.

It's a simple and minimalist work, but it still manages to get big laughs because of the eccentricities and absurdities hidden within each character's actions, dialogue, and performance. It's a rip roaring feast for the throat as Herzog morphs this simple documentary style premise into a funny, but weird, little comedy.

Precautions About Fanatics (1969)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Herzog short is just one running gag about a fanatic at a race horse. A few laughs.

Unprecedented Defence of the Fortress Deutschkreutz, The (1966)

** (out of 4)

Herzog spoof of war and soldiers and the thoughts that creep into ones mind. There are a few funny jokes but again, nothing too interesting.

Last Words (1967)

** (out of 4)

Another Werner Herzog short, this one I'm guessing was meant to be some sort of spoof about people and their last words but none of it is all that funny.

Herakles (1960)

** (out of 4)

Werner Herzog's first film is about a young man who works out hoping to become very muscular one day. Nothing too interesting here.

Proof that Germans are not good at humor and that even Herzog missteps.

Various people around a race track talk about protecting the horses from crazy fanatics, while an older man tries to run them off.

Surreal tale that doesn't really work. The bits go on way past the point of being funny, though there are some very amusing moments such as the man who trains horses by walking them around a tree for 36 hours, however since no horse could keep up the pace he has to trade off horses.

Its a long 12 minutes and the punchline, while amusing doesn't really add up to much.

"Measures Against Fanatics" (BRD 1969) is a kind of fake documentation, containing some loose scenes where people on a horse-racing circuit talk about the way they prevent the horses of fanatics. But an old grandpa - hardly breathing - has his own opinions about that...

Very amusing and curious Shortmovie from Werner Herzogs early years, including a very funny (and rare) performance by Peter Schamoni. Also, Mario Adorf can be seen in a short but cool supporting role. A must-see.

This rare movie is an extra on the DVD of "Lebenszeichen" (BRD 1968). The first 90min picture by Werner Herzog. Also "Last Words" (BRD 1967) and "The Unprecedented Defence of the Fortress Deutschkreuz" (BRD 1967) are extras on this DVD.