The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner (Die große Ekstase des Bildschnitzers Steiner)
Directed by Werner Herzog
Written by Werner Herzog
1974/West Germany
IMDb page
First viewing/YouTube
I don’t have a fear of flying; I have a fear of crashing. — Billy Bob Thornton
Herzog’s documentary on ski jumping champion Walter Steiner is about so much more than the sport.
Champion Swiss ski-flyer/jumper Walter Steiner sculpts with wood in the off-season. He loves the sensation of flying. Fellow ski-jumpers talk about respect for the sport but he is cautious and admits to fear of crashing. This is particularly acute because he flies so much farther than the others that if he jumps from the same height he is likely to overshoot the slope and die.
The documentary features many spectacular ski-jumps and crashes. We also get deep into Steiner’s psychology and media, peer and other pressure for him to push his limits. The second half of the film is devoted to a match in Yugoslavia. Herzog, who provides commentary on camera, creates as much suspense as you might get in a fiction film.
I love to watch the Winter Olympics and have always admired the grace and skill of ski-jumpers. So this was a real treat. The film was made for German TV and Herzog had access to state-of-the-art equipment to film the jumpers. The movie looks beautiful, has a wonderful score by Popul Vuh, and I could listen to Herzog talk all day. It’s only 45 minutes long. Recommended.
