Stroszek. Werner Herzog, 1977.
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Edition screened: Included in Shout! Factory Blu-ray box set Herzog: The Collection, released 2014. English language and German language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 107 minutes.
Summary: Display of dead deer; animal exploitation
Details:
1) Two hunters have a dead deer strapped across their car during a dialogue scene, 1:01:15-1:02:40. Nothing explicit is emphasized.
2) Bruno S. visits a real 1970s roadside tourist trap where caged animals are trained to perform for food. We get a general overview of the animals’ routines 1:40:38-1:41:23; a brief return 1:42:47-1:42:59; and an extended reprise which ends the film, 1:45:24-1:47:17. This last episode focuses on a chicken that is lured to stand on a hot plate to eat – not so hot that she is seriously injured, but hot enough that she “dances” in constant discomfort.
The animal circus tourist trap is the setting for Stroszek’s astounding ending. A child or a childish viewer might find the scenes cute or funny, but Herzog clearly is condemning the spectacle. While an adult viewer will understand that these poor animals live in constant torment, nothing visually “cruel” is depicted.
