Aguirre, the Wrath of God (Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes)

After the conquest and plundering of the Inca empire by Spain

the Indians invented the legend of El Dorado

a land of gold, located in the swamps of the Amazon headwaters.

A large expedition of Spanish adventurers, led by Gonzalo Pizarro,

set off from the Peruvian highlands in late 1560.

The only document to survive from this lost expedition

is the diary of the monk Gaspar de Carvajal.

On Christmas Day 1560, we reached the last pass of the Andes

and for the first time looked down at the legendary jungle.

In the morning I read mass, then we descended through the clouds.

AGUIRRE, WRATH OF GOD

A film by Werner Herzog

No one can get down that river alive!

I tell you, we can do it!

From here it will be easier.

No. We're all going to go under.

Our Indian slaves are useless.

The changing climate kills them off like flies.

Most of them die of colds.

We don't even have time to give them a Christian burial.

Come on, move it!

Move, you pigs! Come on! Let's go!

Keep moving, we don't want to get stuck in the mud!

Son of a bitch!

You idiots! The sedan chair will get stuck!

This way!

Damned mud!

Watch it, you idiots!

Keep the barrel out of the water!

By the last day of the year, we were exhausted.

We camped near the river.

It can't go on like this, men.

The rations are almost finished.

The terrain is so difficult, we're almost at a standstill.

We cannot hope to reach a populated area for some time.

In view of the situation we're in

...I have changed my plans

as follows:

Rafts will be built and manned by forty men.

These men will have the task

...of getting food and information about hostile Indians...

and the location of El Dorado.

We have every reason to believe that both are near.

The expedition must return within one week

by water or by land.

If it doesn't

we have to assume it is lost

and we have to march back the same way

in the hope of reaching an area inhabited by Christians.

We hope, of course, that this will not happen

as long as the Virgin Mary is with us.

After careful consideration, I have decided

to make Don Pedro de Ursua commander of the expedition.

His mistress, Doña Inez de Atienza, will accompany him.

This is against my better judgement.

But she expressed her wish with such grace and firmness

that I cannot refuse it.

Don Lope de Aguirre will be second-in-command.

A man who is well qualified for this task.

His daughter Flores will stay under his protection.

This, also, is against my better judgement.

At fifteen, she should have stayed in the care of the Holy Sisters.

As on all expeditions, the word of God must be brought to the pagans.

I hereby nominate Brother Gaspar de Carvajal for this task.

The remaining two hundred slaves will stay with my group.

The Royal House of Spain will be represented

by the brave nobleman, Don Fernando de Guzmán

who proved his courage 10 years ago

at the storming of the fortress of Saxahuaman.

Some of the best warriors will form this group

but those not chosen shouldn't feel rejected.

I declare all this in the form of a document

to be submitted for approval to the Council of the Indies.

Herewith I append my signature.

Four days later, on January fourth, we set out.

We asked God to be with us.

Watch the raft, the rapids are getting stronger!

Keep in the middle of the river!

- The first raft got stuck in an eddy! - They must get away from the rocks!

January sixth.

We finally reached shore and set up camp.

On the other side of the river, one of our rafts ran into an eddy.

We could not hear what they were yelling, and could not help.

How many are on the raft?

Seven and two Indians.

We must try to help the poor devils, Aguirre.

You are crazy!

We will not help them!

I'm still giving the orders.

Is that so?

We need long ropes and hooks. Further downstream, we'll be able to cross.

Once we're on the other side, we'll be able to get them out.

Take as many men as you need and hurry!

I wonder if Armando has reached the other side?

Those men must be getting sick. They're still going round in circles.

- What is this? - They're firing over there.

They're trying to signal us.

Maybe it's a battle?

There are only six.

The oarsmen and the seventh man have gone.

I find that strange.

Look, the oars are still there.

I'm sure there are still some Indians in this area.

We'd better go back to the camp.

Keep your eyes open!

Help!

Indians! Indians!

A prayer said here is not enough, Brother Carvajal.

I want to take these men back for a Christian burial.

You are right, my son,

their souls will rest much better in consecrated ground.

It's the least we can do for these poor men who died so bravely.

Perucho!

Perucho, don't you think the cannon is getting a bit rusty?

Perhaps.

You know very well who is responsible.

If Aguirre gets away with this, who knows what he'll do next?

Don't worry about that.

We really have other problems.

There are Indians everywhere.

The whole area is full of them

and no one wants to die like the men on the raft.

If only we were out of this trouble.

We can't hope for that yet.

Don't be afraid.

Aguirre would never dare to rebel against the Spanish crown.

We are not in Castile, here.

Look what I've found for you.

This animal sleeps its whole life away.

It's never really awake.

Our rafts are gone.

The rafts are gone!

January eighth.

The river rose fifteen feet over night.

When will our misfortunes end?

If I remove your chains, will you run away?

Would you?

Stop, wait a minute, isn't that my pot?

What are you doing with my pot?

No, the wood is too heavy.

We'll take this one. I'm not taking one step further into this jungle.

What's going on?

We're making nails.

What for?

We need as many nails as possible.

What are you doing with this log?

Well, I'm carrying it from where I found it back to the camp.

Who gave that order?

Everyone here is collecting wood.

And iron.

What's going on here?

I have no idea.

Who gave the order to build rafts?

What does it all mean? Do you know, Inez?

Don't even ask. It's your father's fault.

If only it were all over.

Gentlemen, as your commander, I have decided

...to return to our main troop.

It's not my habit to retreat.

We have to march back, of course, because the current is too strong.

We need to get back within the time Pizarro ordered.

But that would be suicide because of the Indians.

Whatever the cost, we have to march back.

We must get back to Pizarro!

To hell with Pizarro!

I say we can't accomplish our task this way.

And I say, we can conquer without Pizarro!

That's what we gathered logs and iron for,

to build a raft.

Do you remember Hernando Cortez?

Bound for Mexico, he was ordered to return

but he just went on!

Silence, Aguirre!

He ignored the orders and conquered Mexico!

Silence, everyone!

That's how he became rich and famous.

Be quiet!

Because he disobeyed!

Put him in chains!

Stop it, now!

- I follow Ursua. - Kill him!

Anyone else?

What do you think will happen now?

What if there are waterfalls downstream?

Who cares, as long as we get closer to El Dorado.

Have you seen Ursua clenching his fist?

He must have something in it.

I think they will kill him.

Would you have the courage to help him?

You're the only one who can help us.

I know he will kill Ursua and Armando.

He will finish what he has started.

You are my last hope.

Thou let test man flow on like a river

and Thy years know no end.

As for man,

his days are as grass

...as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

For the wind passeth over it

and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more.