Burden of Dreams

In 1981, Les Blank was originally commissioned to chronicle the notorious and near disastrous filming process of Werner Herzog’s epic Fitzcarraldo for fear that the project would never be finished.

The result is a captivating, darkly comic portrait of obsession and a project riddled with obstacles including, and not limited to, the original star being forbidden to return to set by doctors, moving a 320 tonne ship over a small mountain without special effects, an indigenous border war and actual deaths.

Chosen by Hew Locke to complement his current Ikon exhibition Here's The Thing, and showing on 16mm with Blank’s short Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe (1980).

This screening sees the launch of Film Feels: Obsession, a new UK-wide film season exploring the power of compulsion from fandom to murderous desire, taking place around the country throughout June and July. If you'd like to know more about how you can get involved, there will be drinks in the Flatpack hub beforehand from 5pm.