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Aguirre, the Wrath of God

1972 film by Werner Herzog

Aguirre, the Wrath of God (German: Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes) is a 1972 German film about a ruthless and insane man who leads a Spanish expedition in search of El Dorado in the 16th century.

I am the great traitor. There must be no other. Anyone who even thinks about deserting this mission will be cut up into 98 pieces. Those pieces will be stamped on until what is left can be used only to paint the walls. Whoever takes one grain of corn or one drop of water more than his ration will be locked up for 155 years. If I, Aguirre, want the birds to drop dead from the trees, then the birds will drop dead from the trees. I am the Wrath of God.
On this river, God never finished his creation.
Who else is with me?
Directed and written by Werner Herzog.
A breathtaking journey into the heart of darkness. (taglines)

Don Lope de Aguirre

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  • What else is a throne but a plank and some velvet, Your Majesty?
  • That man is a head taller than me. That may change.
  • I am the great traitor. There must be no other. Anyone who even thinks about deserting this mission will be cut up into 98 pieces. Those pieces will be stamped on until what is left can be used only to paint the walls. Whoever takes one grain of corn or one drop of water more than his ration will be locked up for 155 years. If I, Aguirre, want the birds to drop dead from the trees, then the birds will drop dead from the trees. I am the Wrath of God. The earth I pass will see me and tremble. Whoever follows me and the river, will win untold riches. Whoever deserts...
  • These men measure riches in gold. It's more. It's power and fame. I despise them for it.
  • [On a monkey-infested raft among his dead crew] When we reach the sea, we'll build a bigger boat, and with it we'll sail north and take Trinidad away from the Spanish Crown. From there we'll go on and take Mexico from Cortés. What a great betrayal that will be! We will then control all of New Spain and we will stage history as others stage plays. I, the Wrath of God, will marry my own daughter and with her found the purest dynasty ever known to man. Together we will rule the whole of this continent. I am the Wrath… the Wrath of God. [picks up a monkey] Who else is with me?

Balthasar

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  • I was a prince in this land, and my people had to look to the ground, and no one was allowed to look into my eyes. My people are in chains just like me, and I must look to the ground.

Gaspar de Caravajal

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  • [Reading Aguirre's letter of treason] We rebel to the death, and we solemnly so declare, and our hands shall be torn off and our tongues dry up if this is not so. The House of Habsburg devoid of all its rights, and you King of Castille dethroned, by dint of this declaration be you annihilated. In your place we proclaim the noble knight from the city of Seville, Don Fernando de Guzman, Emperor of El Dorado. Flee! Flee from hence, O King, and may God take your soul.

Okello

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  • [Hallucinating] That's not a boat. That's not a tree. [Arrow hits him] This is no arrow. We only see arrows because we're afraid of them.

Dialogue

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Aguirre: Perucho, don't you think the cannon might be a little bit rusty?
Perucho: It might.
Don Fernando de Guzman: All the land we see to the left and all the territory to the right now belongs to us. I solemnly and formally take possession of all this land. Our land is already six times larger than Spain, and everyday we drift makes it bigger!
Aguirre: Have you seen any solid ground recently to support your weight?
Gaspar: Has this savage heard of our savior, Jesus Christ and of our true mission to save their souls? This is a Bible. It contains the words of God which we are bringing to enlighten the darkness of their world. Has he understood that in this book are stored the words of God? You may hold it, my son.
Balthasar: He says it does not speak. [Native man throws down the Bible.]
Soldier: Kill him for his blasphemy! [Gaspar runs the man through.]
Gaspar (narrating): The way will be hard. These savages are difficult to convince.
Gaspar: [Mortally wounded] This arrow cannot hurt me. This is not rain. [swings sword at Aguirre]
Aguirre: Monk, do not forget to pray lest God's end be uncomely.

Taglines

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  • A breathtaking journey into the heart of darkness.
  • On this river, God never finished his creation.

Cast

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