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Sunday, 25 July 2004 |
  Veteran mountain climber Roccia (Vittorio Mezzogiomo) has scaled the world's greatest peaks. Except for one. In Patagonia, Argentina, Cerro Torre thrusts into the sky, a scream of stone defying even the hardiest mountaineers. It's not particularly high as mountains go, but its sheer sides - and the perpetually nasty weather conditions that surround it - make it a daunting challenge.
Martin (Stefan Glowacz) is the world's greatest sports climber. He's adept at scaling mock cliffs built in indoor arenas, but how good would he be with the real thing? With the imposing Cerro Torre?
When journalist Ivan (Donald Sutherland) brings Roccia to an event just won by Martin, the two climbers are immediately at odds. Roccia has just announced another attempt at Cerro Torre and Martin, ever confidant, decides to accompany him. Roccia contends that Martin could never handle the severe conditions that have kept even him at bay. But Ivan thinks it's a good idea - it'd be great press.
So off they go, accompanied by their mutual friend Hans, and Roccia's girlfriend Katharina (Mathilda May). As usual, the weather is terrible and they can do nothing but wait. Martin grows impatient and talks Hans into making an attempt on Cerro Torre, ignoring Roccia's warnings. Roccia is soon proven correct: Hans is killed though Martin claims to have made the peak. Unable to disprove Martin's claim and despondent over Han's death, Roccia gives in to despair, losing Katharina to Martin in the process.
While Martin basks in his fame, Roccia can only ponder the unfairness of it all. Then, aided by the ramblings of Fingerless, a crazed ex-climber driven mad by Cerro Torre, he becomes convinced that Martin lied. His only recourse is to climb the mountain himself to look for proof. When Martin hears of Roccia's plans, he decides to make it a competition. Ivan is thrilled: it's another great story for him, but will the rivalry between Martin and Roccia get them killed?
Scream of Stone is one of Werner Herzog's lesser efforts, lacking the emotional punch of films like Stroszek and Aguirre: The Wrath of God. His usual themes of man versus man and man versus nature are on display here and while these usually make for compelling viewing, the film plays like a docudrama with the focus more on action than character or theme. There are things to like here: Vittorio Mezzogiomo as Roccia is an archetypal Herzog lead and the director's trademark landscapes are on vivid display. The climbing sequences rival those seen in Cliffhanger. There's even an ending that comes as close to getting a laugh as Herzog has ever come (and after which he pays homage to one of his earlier films).
Starring: Vittorio Mezzogiomo, Mathilda May, Donald Sutherland, Brad Dourif, Stefan Glowacz, Al Waxman. Gunilla Karlzen, Chavela Vargas
Director: Werner Herzog
Rated: UR
Running Time: 105 mins
Release: 1991
Reviewer: Steve Gonzales |
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