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The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner U rating

Werner Herzog’s moving portrait of a record-breaking ski jumper.

Documentary 1975 46 mins

Director: Werner Herzog

Overview

The truly stunning, soaring ski-flights of Walter Steiner, a man who earns his living as a carpenter, are beautifully captured using a 16mm camera running at several times its usual speed. Steiner breaks record after record but goes into a difficult internal struggle when one jump goes badly wrong. Kosmiche music legends Popul Vuh draw out and illustrate the beauty and drama.