Cave of Forgotten Dreams

G

Released Apr 29, 2011

1 hr. 30 min.

Documentary

List

96%

140 Reviews

Tomatometer

73%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this documentary, filmmaker Werner Herzog and a small crew are given a rare chance to film inside France's Chauvet Cave, where the walls are covered with the world's oldest surviving paintings. To preserve the art, people are allowed to enter the site for only two weeks a year. Examining the 30,000-year-old drawings, Herzog discusses how the artwork represents humanity's earliest dreams with scientists and art scholars conducting research at Chauvet.

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Critics Consensus

Hauntingly filmed and brimming with Herzog's infectious enthusiasm, Cave of Forgotten Dreams is a fascinating triumph.

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georgan g

Absolutely fascinating documentary about the oldest found cave paintings. Being a lover of all things about cultural anthropology, this was RIGHT up my alley!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Really dry documentary. Why are all cave drawings of animals. Interesting for 20 minutes and then it gets really hard to watch as there's not enough content to keep the subject going.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not even the amazing voice/narration of Werner Herzog saved me from making me almost fall sleep and making me feel there was not much to say about the topic that a 20 min museum video could have made in such a better way.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

William L

Cave of Forgotten Dreams is a tale of two films. One is a neat documentary based around unprecedented access to a notoriously restricted historical site of international significance, one of the earliest surviving records of the dawn of human culture. The other is Werner Herzog droning on and on with whatever pseudointellectual philosophical bullshit he can think up. You can clearly see the man projecting his own ego onto some of the most important artifacts with vague musings that mean nothing ("What constitutes humanness?", and "What will these albino crocodiles in a nuclear power plant think of the cave paintings?"). It completely sours the experience, and I have no problem saying that despite the quality of the visuals and the fascinating subject matter, Herzog himself makes me actually hate the film. (1/5)

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/07/21

Full Review

Audience Member

It was interesting. A slice of prehistoric history.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

You’d expect a movie about cave paintings will be boring but this is the opposite. A soulful and honestly passionate film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/27/19

Full Review

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Werner Herzog

Director

Werner Herzog

Narrator

Werner Herzog

Screenwriter

Peter Zeitlinger

Cinematographer

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Herzog has used the 3D process with tremendous creativity to make this very beautiful film.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 21, 2011

Full Review

Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

This is what 3-D was made for, puncturing the proscenium and taking us somewhere ''not yet offended''.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 21, 2011

Full Review

Stephen Cole

Globe and Mail

It is our tour guide that makes Cave of Forgotten Dreams an often thrilling experience.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 8, 2011

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Herzog delivers a documentary so powerful that the result will leave the viewer more than just well-informed but transported by the experience.

Rated: 4/4

Jun 7, 2023

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

A marvelous dream impossible to forget. [Full review in Spanish]

Aug 9, 2022

Full Review

Jack Fleischer

Battleship Pretension

Cave of Forgotten Dreams: 3D is an interesting story, told by that quirky friend...

Mar 24, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

In this documentary, filmmaker Werner Herzog and a small crew are given a rare chance to film inside France's Chauvet Cave, where the walls are covered with the world's oldest surviving paintings. To preserve the art, people are allowed to enter the site for only two weeks a year. Examining the 30,000-year-old drawings, Herzog discusses how the artwork represents humanity's earliest dreams with scientists and art scholars conducting research at Chauvet.

Director: Werner Herzog
Screenwriter: Werner Herzog
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication, Arte France, Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, History
Rating: G
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 29, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 7, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.2M

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