Werner Herzog’s film Aguirre, the Wrath of God (made in 1972) will always be counted among one of the finest and magnificent films ever made. The theme of the film and characterization of Aguirre will find a special mention for time immemorial in the history of film-making. 

Amazingly this film on greed and ambition of a man for wealth, fame and power and ultimate descent of man into self-destruction, brutality and total insanity in his mad pursuit of the same is so relevant even this day. This film has no wings of human fantasy. The expedition which goes in search of El Dorado, the land of gold and to spread word of God looks so similar to many undertaken in the human history for years. Wars have been waged, battles have been won, and man has conquered Land and Nature by simple brute force fuelled by mad ambition to rule. Also Nature too has humbled man by equal force, if not more. Another subtle important truth that comes across in the film is that religion cannot tame human greed but rather can become a manipulative tool for the strong in the ultimate conquest.

On the last day of the year 2008 when world is sinking deeper into financial crisis due to ever-dominating trait of greed and ambition of human beings, this film indeed is a must-watch for all those who want to deconstruct darkness and brutal aspects of human soul.