Grizzily Man (2005)

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.