Cavity Search

If you can swing it, go and see Werner Herzog's new documentary "Cave of Forgotten Dreams." It's all about the Chauvet caves in southern France where, in 1994, numerous cave paintings were discovered that may date back some 30,000 years. The film is in 3D, a form well-suited to the subject matter (somewhat surprisingly). Herzog's usual dry wit, understatement, and general quirkiness are scaled back here, and one gets the impression that the subject so overwhelmed the filmmaker that he was often at a loss for words. He mostly lets the pictures do the talking--and boy do they.

Visit the French Ministry of Culture's site on the cave here and the site for Herzog's film here.

K and I viewed it at Portland's Livingroom Theaters on 10th downtown, a place where you can have wine or a glass of beer (and I'm not talkin' no paper cup) and sit in comfy chairs with little tables. Well, we were a tad late, arriving during the previews, and couldn't find two seats together. The nice waiter brought in a chair for us so we could sit together in the corner. K sat and found her seat cushion soaked (and thus her bottom), and as she jumped to her feet again she kicked over her glass of wine and shattered it. The nice waiter fixed everything (except K's bottom) and we were able to settle in just as the film began. All in all, it's a cool place to see a flick. Check it out sometime. And right across the street is Clyde Common, an excellent place to have rack of pig, spaetzle, and more wine after the film. 'Twas the first "civilized" evening we've had in quite a while.

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