Grizzly Man: a poignant documentary
By Nick Norman
Timothy Treadwell, the Grizzly Man: environmentalist, activist, lost soul, absolute crazy person.
In his new documentary, monumental filmmaker Werner Herzog examines the life and death of this controversial madman.
For 13 consecutive summers, Treadwell lived among the Alaskan Grizzly bears and recorded over 100 hours of video footage. Dramatically, and rather ironically, Timothy's adventures ended when he was mauled to death and eaten by a rogue bear.
In the talented hands of Werner Herzog, this tragedy blossoms into an amazingly poetic testament to "human ecstasies and darkest human powers." Herzog examines the boundary between order and chaos -- human and animal -- through the living lens of Timothy Treadwell.
Treadwell is boyish with a pageboy haircut and impossibly high voice. He chases foxes around and thanks them for being his friend (he even names one after himself). These moments of childish wonder give warmth to an otherwise disturbing story.
Yet he also confesses his love for the bears and cries over their pain. He throws temper tantrums aimed at such targets as God, humanity and the National Park Service. He fondles bear feces and becomes overjoyed when the pile radiates warmth.
Treadwell wanted to be a grizzly.
What sort of man is this?
Herzog's answer is an elegant, funny and deeply emotional study of a troubled man-boy.
The director tells the audience of Treadwell's death at the opening of the film. But more importantly, he tells us the mauling was recorded when Treadwell left his camera running. This knowledge ingeniously creates a palpable tension for the next 60 minutes. Every time a bear approached Timothy I felt my legs go shaky with adrenaline-fueled anticipation. But worry not, the footage is handed tastefully. It is suitable for all ages and sensitivities.
Ever needed a perfect example of dramatic irony? This film is it. Treadwell uses such phrases as "Lord I do not want to be hurt by a bear" only to be cut out of a bear's stomach and hauled away in garbage bags. This man deeply loved these animals but he crossed a dangerous line and paid for it with his life. He forgot that he was still a human living amongst chaotic animals.
The whole story is very emotional, but in a disturbingly fascinating way, not sentimentally. The complexity of this film is just breathtaking and I can't remember the last time a documentary gave me goose bumps -- over and over again.
Grizzy Man is the best film I have seen in nearly a year. See this documentary. You will leave the theatre with a new appreciation of documentary filmmaking and a deep calm of having seen something magical.
Grade: A
Contact Nick Norman at (408) 554-1918 or npnorman@scu.edu.