Woyzeck

Herzog’s film of Büchner’s play, with Kinski as the titular soldier broken by cruelty and oppression, is one of his finest.

  • Director

    Werner Herzog

  • With

    Klaus Kinski, Eva Mattes, Josef Bierbichler

  • West Germany-Spain-Italy 1979. 81min

  • Digital

  • Certificate

    15

  • English subtitles

Quickly shot and edited days after filming on Nosferatu ended, Herzog’s film of Büchner’s play is nevertheless one of his finest achievements. Long takes render it stylistically austere, while Kinski gives one of his most meticulous performances as the army private gradually driven murderously insane both by his own thoughts – especially about his wife – and by the oppressive cruelties of military life. Tough, rigorous and powerful.

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