Grizzily Man
Grizzily Man is one
of the most acclaimed docudrama by Werner Herzog, about an idealist man, called
Timothy Treadwell, dedicated his life for protecting Grizzily Bears located in
Alaska. However, when we analyze the movie and combine it with Herzog's
approach, It can be realized that this movie is more than that.
Timothy Treadwell's
character is focused and evaluated throughout the movie by considering not only
the reality of nature but also the reality of society. Timothy always queries
himself, tries to find something to hold and based on that in time, he decides
to find a new persona with the way of creating his own distopia. This is not a
dialectical way because, it is so far from logic and reality. This distopia
where occupies in one of the most dangerous region, rejects the civilization
and brings about responsibilities and attentiveness. Who new that this distopia
results in more questioning.
As if it seems that
Timothy has complex personality, he is so simple. He is an ordinary person who
wants to find his aim and tries to escape from the pressure of society. He likes
to live in extreme so, he made a difference with his choice. His aim is to protect wild animals around wild
region. He struggles with not only providing continuity of his existence by not
being eaten by bears but also being separated from society and being 'the other'.
It reminds the fiction movie, named 'into the wild', about a well-educated
person's oppose to the order. Inspite of the fact that Timothy is more careful
and prepared than this person, Both of them succumbed to fall toward society.
This is the cycle of
environment that Stronger animals beat Weaker's one. By considering this fact that Timothy always treats
attentively to grizzily bears. He treats as if he is stronger than the bears in
order to cover up his weakness. On the other hand, he shows tenderness,
sincerity behaviour toward these wild animals to make a bond. It is arguable,
in fact discussed in the documentary, whether it is possible to make a bond
between humanity and wild life. Herzog opined his approach that he thinks,
there is no understanding, mercy in the bear's world. There is no secret world
of bears. He thinks that there are predators as a nature of the universe. He
supports his idea with the soundtrack. He believes that the common character of
the universe is not harmony, but hostility and murder. Herzog uses land-shaped
glaciers in dissary as a metaphor in order to show Timothy's soul. These ideas bring
about a subjectively approach to documentary.
The Video Camera,
used by Timothy, becomes Timothy's close friend that he talks about his
problems, pasts, doubts with the camera. When he talks wih the camera, he acts
like an actor that it is known, he wanted to be an actor. It can be put forward
that Timothy also wants to make something important, something that makes him a
known person. In order to make it true, this documentary is finished as it
should have been for Timothy by the Timothy's death. There is a tension
throughout the movie because, documentary is usually watched by knowing the end
of Timothy. This tension is strength by the Herzog's scene choices. There is a
scene that blood can be seen on the rocks behind the Timothy's speech, pictures
horror. When Willy Fulton talks about Timothy on the wild area, lots of small
flies can be seen. These small flies' voice and appearance give disturbance to audiences.
The type of this
documentary involves more than one type together that the narration of this
documentary is made by observation, participation. Interviews are done by
Timothy's friends. Herzog also, go into the field and speaks about his opinions
behind the camera . Herzog's participation makes the documentary exposition
type, as well.
The narration style
in terms of editing was done so appropriate that It is easy to involve with the
exact feelings and explanations. In some scenes, where camera is hold by hand, more
sincere atmosphere is created. Especially, when Herzog explains his opinion
about the Grizzily Bear's behaviour, he shoots Grizzily Bears in close-up. He tries to show their
expressions and reflect how they haven't got even a bit of affectionate expression.
This documentary, which
include real life, is indisputable one of the most effective documentary.
People who believe that a bond can be created between wild animals and people,
should watch this documentary and after that should be questioning the reality
of lifecycle.
