Outtakes

For me, Herzog's Grizzly Man illustrated Barthes's idea of the cinematic punctum in a number of ways. Timothy Treadwell's moments of tenderness, craziness, and joy are even more poignant when the viewer is simultaneously being exposed to his (very violent) death. And I would certainly say that there were moments that "pricked" or "bruised" me; there were moments in the films which struck me in a way that isn't really traceable or exactly symbolic. But assuming that the viewer in this relationship is putting herself at risk of wound, making herself vulnerable, it must be kept in mind that these shots are not all candid and off-the-cuff.

Herzog makes a point of showing Treadwell's tendency to try several takes of a monologue, often showing the out-takes. While he praises Treadwell's ability as a filmmaker, how does this inclusion function? While Treadwell certainly made himself vulnerable before the camera and was a willing subject of the camera's gaze, is this the equivalent of Keenan's example of being shot while supposedly safely looking out of a window? Are these outtakes private? The exposure of these takes seems contrary to Treadwell's intentions as a filmmaker and as a subject, and Herzog's use of these shots even lead some critics to believe that Herzog wants the audience to see Treadwell as crazy or a buffoon.

It seems to me that this is also an obvious link to La Jetee, although the intrusion into private space is used more malevolently there. This is also not to accuse Herzog; I felt much more sympathetic to Treadwell after seeing the film than I would have thought before seeing it. And seeing Herzog's respect for the audio tape of Treadwell and Amie's death suggests an acknowledgement of a private sphere, or if not that, then a desire to avoid a fetishism or use of that real and horrible moment of violence for his own ends. I just wonder how Herzog or we (as individuals, or in society, whatever we want to go for) conceive of those who have died as objects, and how we think that respect for an individual's subjectivity or vulnerability change when that person is no longer alive.