by Joel Bocko
Over and over again, we are told that Timothy Treadwell wanted to be a bear. That he felt closer to bears than to other people and that in nature he sought his salvation. We’re informed, by commentators and by the narrator (filmmaker Werner Herzog himself) that Treadwell would drop on all fours and growl at those who stumbled across him in Katmai National Park and Reserve in Alaska, where he spent summers living amongst the creatures, just him and his camera. Or rather, him, his camera, and his girlfriend Amie Huguenard, whom he never mentioned or acknowledged in any of the footage, but who died alongside him in 2003. Herzog, who mixes Treadwell’s own footage with latter-day interviews and his own commentary, at one point listens to Treadwell’s death tape (the camera was running, with the cap on, so audio but no visuals remain of Treadwell’s butchering by a Grizzly in his tent). After a few seconds, Herzog rips off the headphones and tells Treadwell’s ex-girlfriend never, never to listen to the tape (which she acquired through a coroner) – in fact, she must throw it away. In his last moments, it appears, Treadwell was all too human and his death cries are too grisly for any member of his species to experience.
But then, the assertion that Treadwell wanted to be a bear rather than a person never quite rings true. The man we see on his own tapes is almost stubbornly human, talking and talking and talking non-stop, staging faux-action scenes in the wilderness, and most of all, endlessly sentimentalizing and humanizing the animals. Indeed, it seems more likely that Treadwell wanted the bears to be human than for himself to a bear. As one helicopter pilot (disenchanted with Treadwell to the point of saying, “He got what he deserved”) puts it: “He was treating them like people in bear costumes.” However insensitive the pilot is in other regards, his sentiments here ring true. Treadwell nicknames all the bears, talks to them, asserts that he and they have an understanding, fetishizes their poop, and waxes poetic about how much he’s in love with all of them, all while they wander around indifferently, on occasion casting quizzical glances in his direction.
Late in the film, Herzog treats us to a terrifying sight: two Grizzlies begin to aggressively tangle on the beach, and it turns into a full-blown fight. Up on their hind legs, the beasts chomp at one another’s necks, rip big tufts of fur which whirl in the air around their battling bodies, and even defecate into the sand in the heat of the action. For a good hour now, we’ve been watching the lumbering bears on all fours, relatively docile if rather intimidating: suddenly, standing up and in attack mode they look the size of elephants, with a ferocity that tells us they could rip apart a human being in seconds, tearing him limb from limb and devouring his flesh, as they eventually did with Treadwell. But Treadwell films one of the bears after the fight and baby-talks to it: “It’s okay, buddy, I’ve gotten bruised over a girl too” or something to that effect. The fight is presented without commentary and it speaks for itself. Nothing Treadwell can say afterwards will do away with our impression that the Grizzlies are implacable killing machines, and that the anthropomorphic characterizations of Treadwell have nothing to do with reality.
On the other hand, Treadwell did live amongst the animals for thirteen years without incident. To do so, and to teach about them extensively as he did in school visits and TV appearances, he obviously had to know a lot about bears. So while he is silly, it’s hard to imagine he was as stupid as he lets on. How much of his talk is sentimentalization, how much is wishful thinking, and how much is purely a mask, to cover his deeper fears? At times he talks about his former alcoholism, and his troubles with women (though anyone who can convince an animal-loathing lady to trek into the woods with him for several months must not have too much difficulty in that department). He used drugs in his past, nearly overdosed, and was a chronic fabricator. A former lover tells us she and he would go to criminal arraignments when they lived in L.A., and she thinks he did so to remind himself of what could happen if he gave in to his dark side. Late in the film, he’s shown on-camera cursing wildlife officials who had always assisted him, in a paranoid and profanity-ridden stream-of-consciousness rant.
Indeed, both the playful silliness of his talk and the way he turns the primal beings around him into safe, understandable, lovable woodland critters seem like a depressive’s (particularly a depressive child’s) manic concealment of his own condition. By retreating into a world of childlike wonder and cozy comfort with the animals, he is covering up his demons, something he may be – and probably was – quite conscious of. He even tells us at one point that his life was pointless and that living with the animals saved him. But that’s his end of the stick, and the feeling seldom seems reciprocated, particularly by the Grizzlies Treadwell so adores. One Grizzly in particular has a nasty bearing, and as Treadwell talks to it, Herzog speculates that Treadwell may have been photographing his own murderer and observes that the bear’s “blank stare [shows] … only the half-bored interest in food.” Herzog further ruminates, “I believe the common character of the universe is not harmony, but hostility, chaos and murder.”
Timothy Treadwell may not have believed such, but he almost certainly feared it. And so, watching his video footage, we sense – as with other fascinating documentaries like Capturing the Friedmans – that we are at once getting a closer look and yet gazing through a glass, darkly. The Treadwell we see is by and large the one Treadwell wanted us to see. Herzog gets past this to a certain extent by playing Treadwell’s outtakes and dead time, noting on the soundtrack that around and in between the staged, hyper moments in which Treadwell mimics action-film conventions (leaping out of bushes and whispering playful adventure dialogue at the camera) nature goes on, and Treadwell’s camera captures this reality almost in spite of itself. The same is true of Treadwell’s own “nature.” In unguarded moments and even, perhaps especially, at his most theatrical, we glimpse the troubled soul behind the cheerful exterior and it causes us to wonder: in attempting to bring the bears over to his mental territory (even as he trespassed into their physical territory), was Treadwell trying to purge his own dark, beastly side?
Many will see the film’s title, Grizzly Man, as a description of Treadwell. But Herzog may see it as a descriptor of not one, but two, entities with an invisible “vs.” in between. Ironically then, the opposition between man and nature exists not only outside, but inside, mankind. And the film may be just as much about that as is it is about Treadwell’s silent battle with external forces.
Next week: Kings and Queens (#48)
[Originally this post provided a link to my piece, which was first posted on the Examiner. As of 1/29/10, it has been moved here in its entirety.]
Grizzly Man (2005), dir. Werner Herzog
Very interesting review that comes from a number of directions. The last “grisly” sequence when the tape recorder reveals the horrifying truth was something that was avoidable. But it was clear earlier on that luck would only last so long, it this path to self-destruction. This is one of the best Herzog films of the recent times.
Really enjoyed reading that piece, Joel.
“One Grizzly in particular has a nasty bearing, and as Treadwell talks to it, Herzog speculates that Treadwell may have been photographing his own murderer and observes that the bear’s “blank stare [shows] … only the half-bored interest in food.” Herzog further ruminates, “I believe the common character of the universe is not harmony, but hostility, chaos and murder.”
I like this film a lot (it made my Top 10 the year of its released) and it’s definitely (as Joe contends) one of his best films of recent years, but Herzog’s steadfast embrace of this dire world view as seen in full flower last year with his “Encounters” where he bluntly predicts the eventual obliteration of mankind, has frankly become preachy and tiresome. Those who deride Von Trier for his dark visions must take a good look at the philosophy of the seemingly good-natured Herzog, and try and find the root of this inconsistency. Treadwell was frankly a major jerk, a psychotic “head case” who as the sheriff contends in one of the film funniest segments, was asking for big trouble and basically got what was coming to him. I’m a bleeding heart liberal, but Treadwell’s case is infuriating, as it’s clear he was a charletan, who was looking for attention, railing against society in some shameless patronizing to a nature I don’t really believe he cared much for. He was a narcissist plain and simple.
Still, the filmmaking here, with the use of the fascinating interviews and the priceless ‘visual diary’ segments with Treadwell huimself are priceless, and Herzog paints quite a portrait of a sad and deluded soul, who seemed headed from the beginning for a tragic end. His on-camera postering as an animal lover with his doting and kissing was embarrassing and rung false. Naturally the final audio death seen is blood-curdling.
Another Examiner gem.
…..THE GUY WAS A KOOK! he got what he deserved!……..
Perhaps one of the most troubling aspects of contemporary American culture is the way in which it seems to engender an enforced emotional estrangement from the natural world taken in its own context and substitutes solipsistic fantasies on its citizens. Thus we have idiots so completely out of touch with the realities of the natural world beyond man’s realm that they try to keep tigers as house pets, or release alligators into local ponds. Yet nowhere are the tragic consequences of such a debilitating divorce from natural reality more evident than in “Grizzly Man” an absolutely compelling, artful, and horrific cinematic look by renowned director Werner Herzog at Timothy Treadwell, a man who attempted to bridge the gap between the world of man-made artifice and the natural world of nature.
Herzog focuses his lens and his fascinating documentary on the life and death of Treadwell, a man who leapt quite suddenly and unexpectedly from his boring and evidently stultifying suburban lifestyle to quickly and famously establish himself, literally in mid-life, as a singular personality, a self-fashioned and self-educated grizzly bear scholar, as indeed, the one man who manages successfuly to live among the bears. This is as in ‘grizzly bears’, the largest, most awesome, and most terrifyingly predatory mammal this since of 19th century hominads. I think you have touched all pertinent bases here is this exceptional essay.
Hey Bill, that is some response there! You really seemed to have caught the essence here.
I think some of us are a bit harsh on Treadwell. He was unbalanced, but I’d be inclined to give him the benefit of a doubt. He was an idealist – deluded yes – but still willing to spend his life out in the wilds and interact with nature. He knew the risks, but was still willing to take them for his cause.
John, you do make a valid point, but I still feel the man had deep-rooted psychological issues and anger management problems that made his long nature foray a way to ‘lash out’ at conformation of any kind. In other words, I doubt his sincerity. This is how Herzog presented him, going back to the excellent earlier part of the film that chronicles his upbringing and biographical context.
I’d meet you half way Sam. He had some serious issues, yes, but there was also the inherent love for nature an animals which was part of him since he was very young.
Sam, I don’t really doubt his sincerity, just his sanity. At any rate that was a great blistering response – towards both Treadwall and Herzog. We all love your gracious manner, but this side of you is fun to experience every now and then too!
I’ll come back with more later.
Hi! Sam Juliano, Allan, Joel, and WitD readers,
Oh! Yes, Dean Treadway, included this film on his list in my 30 days in November countdown.(When he was a guest blogger on my blog.)
After reading Joel’s review of “Grizzly Man” I ‘am not quite sure if I will seek this film out to watch…because Dean’s and Joel’s reviews have basically told me all I need to know about (“The Man, The Movie and the Bears”)…Well not the bears…because I didn’t need no one to tell me just how dangerous they (bears) are…especially, after reading this passage from Joel’s article:
“Late in the film, Herzog treats us to a terrifying sight: two Grizzlies begin to aggressively tangle on the beach, and it turns into a full-blown fight. Up on their hind legs, the beasts chomp at one another’s necks, rip big tufts of fur which whirl in the air around their battling bodies, and even defecate into the sand in the heat of the action. For a good hour now, we’ve been watching the lumbering bears on all fours, relatively docile if rather intimidating: suddenly, standing up and in attack mode they look the size of elephants, with a ferocity that tells us they could rip apart a human being in seconds, tearing him limb from limb and devouring his flesh, as they eventually did with Treadwell. But Treadwell films one of the bears after the fight and baby-talks to it: “It’s okay, buddy, I’ve gotten bruised over a girl too” or something to that effect. The fight is presented without commentary and it speaks for itself. Nothing Treadwell can say afterwards will do away with our impression that the Grizzlies are implacable killing machines, and that the anthropomorphic characterizations of Treadwell have nothing to do with reality.”
I recently, completed a book entitled “Killing Custer” by author James Welch, were the author describe a scene in his book of two men who decided quite foolishly, but of course to [sic] a vicious dog on a baby cub (bear) that was temporary chained to a fence of some sort, by his owner…
…Well, needless to say the vicious dog throat was ripped apart. (Just think if a baby cub (bear) could kill while temporary chained to a fence with such force… Therefore, I ‘am not shocked by the bears aggressive behavior and most importantly, their strength and what occurred between the bears in the aforementioned quote from Joel’s article The Boston Examiner. (Because when they are bear cubs they have such power and strength…too!)
Wow…and to think I use to ask my parents (and they of course would just smile 🙂 …Well, my père (father) laughed!) for a “panda bear” for Christmas…because a panda bear may look cuddly, but they are just as fierce…belonging to the bear family, but of course…
…Do the panda belong to the bear family? “Yes, it does. For many years, it was thought to be a member of the raccoon family, but modern genetic and DNA testing show it is, indeed, a bear.” (Wiki Answer)
DeeDee 😉
Dee Dee: Another one of your classic responses here, and I was delighted to hear of that personal anecdote particularly, about the panda bear. Amazing that they once thought of the panda as a member of the raccoon family! And thanks also for that fascinating narrative information from KILLING CUSTER. Wow. Everything you say here enlightens and enriches Joel’s review and Herzog’s film!
Dee Dee, yes, and I have to laugh everytime those “save the Polar bear” ads come on…don’t get me wrong, I’m all for preserving endangered species and averting global warming, but when they present in that sentimentalized, “look in the cuddly polar bear’s eyes” I have to remind myself that probably the greatest threat to the adorable little tyke’s life is his cannibalistic mother. Treadwell may have loved animals, but he didn’t really seem to respect them, did he?
Ha — I love those too, but because it looks like Noah Wyle is being forced to do them as some sort of PSA for burning down a wildlife refuge or something. He just isn’t selling me on the importance of giving money to his cause…
Joel said,”Treadwell may have loved animals, but he didn’t really seem to respect them, did he?”
Oh! No, I don’t think Treadwell, respected animals…
…Joel, personally, I do not trust (When I use the word trust…I mean to get as close as Treadwell, did to those bears…) no “animal” that are suppose to be in the wild…because “some” wild (and domesticated animals such as Rottweiler’s and pit bulls even thought they are domesticated) have that…killer instinct.
Some people have to remember that animals unlike humankind do not have the ability to reason…Therefore, they may turn on their masters at any given time.
(Well, some wild and domesticated animal…I ‘am being careful not to generalize.)
Because after reading this article Siegfried & Roy
I ‘am apt to believe that Siegfried’s white tiger name Montecore was trying to protect him, but still…
DeeDee 😉
Joel, ma man, I think this just might be your masterpiece.
What a review! Every line is spot on.
P.S: This is a solid Herzog movie although I would have liked him to cut down on the voice over a bit
Thanks, JAFB – honestly I’m a little surprised at all the compliments here as I thought this was one of my weaker pieces – but I’m grateful for all the enthusiasm.
As for Herzog, I accepted the voiceover because essentially he seemed to be another character in the film – at times perhaps even the main one (or at least our “guide,” a more opinionated version of Thomson in Citizen Kane).
Excellent review, MovieMan, and a balanced one on a puzzling, difficult subject. Was Treadwell brave and idealistic, or a self-obsessed fool who was using the grizzly bears as props to make himself look relevant, effective–ironically, to other humans, for whom he professed such disdain? I couldn’t help but notice Treadwell’s sharp black outfits, his artfully disarranged blond hair–who was he getting himself up for, the grizzlies? No. As was mentioned before, Treadwell profoundly needed the attention and approval of humans. All those films, all those public appearances–he was really shilling himself.
And yet…and yet the guy survived among the bears for 13 years. The explanation of one of the wild life officials was that the bears tolerated Treadwell because they thought he was retarded! All too true, perhaps.
I admire Herzog so much that I was taken aback by Sam’s remark that old Werner’s dark view has gotten “tiresome and preachy.” I understand why he might feel this. Yet I’m strongly convinced that we should cherish a director of great talent who is willing and able to stare into the face of dark subjects–to present them honestly, fully, without fear–and the proof is in his fine films. In Grizzly Man, I remember a horrifying photograph showing the gut of the slaughtered grizzly who killed Treadwell and his girlfriend; and a man’s (the pilot’s) rather casual remark that Treadwell’s remains had been found in the bear. There are not many directors who would be brave enough to show us this; yet Herzog goes straight to the gut of the bear, in film after film…
Hey Margaret. Thanks as always for the high-octane, excellent response. Like you I do cherish and admire Herzog mightily, all through the AGUIRE, FITZCARALDO, EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF AND GOD AGAINST ALL days to te recent spate of impressive documentaies. I just issued effusive praise at this site for his recently-released BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF NEW ORLEANS, and plan to visit the IFC this week to see his newest doc., MY SON MY SON WHAT HAVE YE DONE. He is one of contemporary cinema’s most accomplished and prolific artists, and I have promoted his work for years. However, my adoration for his artistry does not mean I accept his negaive, almost nihilist worldview. The beauty of the whole thing is that I can admire and cherish him while simultaneously deriding his tiresome moralizing, which manifested itself quite glaringly in this film and in the aforementioned ENCOUNTERS. Perhaps he needs to shift his focus a bit.
By the way, though everyone here would appreciate this. I was just over on Examiner to collect some links for my directory, and guess what the advertisement was to the right of my “Grizzly Man” post.
A WWF (that’s not the wrestling organization, by the way) video with cute polar bears cuddling together and the text “You can’t take this one home with you”, “or this one”, etc. with little childlike arrows pointing to the cubs and the mother. “But if you donate to us,” it concluded, “we will send you this one!” with a plush stuffed polar bear popping up on the screen. I can only suppose that detecting the words “bears” and “environmentalists” in my text the ad was automatically assigned to my page…as if anyone is going to want to snuggle up with a bear after reading about Timothy Treadwell!
(Kind of reminds me how, on a conservative site bemoaning homosexual marriage, numerous ads for gay porn would pop up on the sidebar.)
Hi! Joel,
Oh! Yes, I just checked that out, but I had to refresh the page in order to view the ad on the top right hand side…By the way, do you know who else do that (generate ad(s) automatically) …The “Googler”. (Google)
Every time I send an email and mention a “key” word and lo and behold on the sidebar appears ads for…Webpages, flowers, candy, DVDs, etc, etc, etc…
I wonder what would happen if I tried that with another one of your articles.
DeeDee 😉
Joel said, “as if anyone is going to want to snuggle up with a bear after reading about Timothy Treadwell!”
Ha! Ha!
Especially, the bear cubs…Yet along with the mother bear…In other words, the bear cubs are just as deadly as the mother (bear).
By the way, that Silent poll graphic that Tony D’Ambra, created is…
very nice! 8)
DeeDee 😉
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