The cathedral under the frozen sky.

Werner Herzog brings his unique perspective–and his cameras–to one of the most isolated places on earth, the McMurdo station, Antartica. From the unusual characters who choose to live at the South Pole to the miraculous life in the ocean under the ice (hence the title), Herzog pursues his own idiosyncratic interests in Encounters at the End of the World.

Herzog’s questions lead to cinematic meditations on human extinction, on community and isolation, and on the wonders of the natural world–all with images that amaze, amuse, and inform. Simply stunning, this film is work from a master filmmaker and was a privilege to watch.

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As always, the disclaimer applies: This is a festival to which I have a substantial connection. I have volunteered for the past two years and sat on this year’s Selection Committee. I wrote for the festival catalog and will likely be introducing some of the filmmakers and subjects at the festival. Feel free to adjust for my bias. My blog reportage and opinions, however, do not represent the views of AFI or the SILVERDOCS festival, the Selection Committee, or of any of their staff. No one should construe anything expressed on this site as being endorsed or supported by AFI, SILVERDOCS or anybody other than me.