Woyzeck (4 Stars)

This film was made by Werner Herzog in 1979, starring the inimitable Klaus Kinski in the title role. It's based on a play written by Georg Büchner in 1836, and the play is based on true events that took place in Leipzig in 1821. The story itself is very simple, boringly simple, but the film is made powerful by the philosophical implications taken directly from Büchner. Many critics consider Büchner's play to be the best ever play written in German.

Franz Woyzeck is a lowly soldier on guard duty in Leipzig. He has a child with an unmarried mother, whom he loves very much. He has to sleep in the barracks, but he visits her every day. He suspects her of having an affair with another soldier, so he kills her.

That's it. Not much of a story, is it?

Woyzeck's guilt, which he never denied, should have made it a clear cut case, but there was a long trial in the 1820's, and the original transcripts of the trial have been preserved until today. The army wanted to save money, so it was thought that soldiers could make do with simpler food. Woyzeck took part in an experiment, in which he was only allowed to eat peas for three months. Both Woyzeck and other soldiers taking part in the experiments suffered from hallucinations.

This is what we see in the film. Klaus Kinski portrays episodes of madness like no other actor. In addition, he makes constant philosophical utterances at the most unsuitable times.

"Man is an abyss. Whoever looks into him becomes dizzy".

"Is No to blame for Yes, or Yes for No?"

"We have too little pain in this life, because through pain we come to God".

Those are just a few examples. Almost everything that Woyzeck says in the film is meaningful, much more than could be expected from a common soldier.

Was Woyzeck's girlfriend Marie really being unfaithful? The film doesn't make it clear. All we see is that she dances with the other man, nothing more. She feels guilty about this and prays for forgiveness. From what I've read about the play, she probably was unfaithful. It's Werner Herzog's interpretation that Woyzeck imagined much more than really happened.

"Woyzeck" is a film of epic proportions, but I feel like I'm standing outside a house looking through a window. There's a big party going on, but I can't hear what's being said, only muffled noises. I'm not able to write a suitable review.