MovieChat Forums > Lektionen in Finsternis (2002) Discussion > Why did the oil workers restart the fire...

Why did the oil workers restart the fire?

posted 19 years ago by Balibari
13 replies | jump to latest

If there's no way to shut off the flow it seems to make sense to have the oil burning off rather than flooding the area, anyone know if that's the reason, or what is?

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Thurston_Thornton_III 19 years ago

I had thought that i might have something to do with burning off toxins. Thanks for the research :)

If Keira Knightley entered the room upon my death, I would likely live another two days.

[–] FZ-FX 19 years ago

I think it's important to understand that Herzog doesn't see the film as a documentary, but as more of a science fiction story. There's quite a bit of fiction in the film, but I don't think that Herzog's intent was to mislead people, since in his mind the film isn't a documentary but rather a work of fiction.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Camoo 19 years ago

that scene was one of the greatest he has ever created!

[–] aaroncameron2 19 years ago

Although the firefighters are valiant in their profession, I think Herzog's decision to use the firefighters as metaphors for humanity's inherent war lust and to show the madness and irrationality of people in positions of power regarding war and conflict is much more pertinent than to glorify a profession that exist as a result of oily greed and war crazed leaders.

More intersting, and ironic, I think, is how Herzog chose to only depict one method of extinguishing the fire, that through the use of explosive - a destructive object. I think this speaks of how the 'aliens' in the film can only think of ways of extinguishing a war-created problem through the use of a war-device.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] seth_yeah 18 years ago

In the book Herzog on Herzog, he explains it:

There was actually a practical reason for igniting the flame because in this case the gush of oil had created a lake which was approaching other burning fires, and had the oil been ignited by other fires there would have been an even bigger problem.

I asked them to let me know when they were going to reignite the flame so I could be there with a camera. I am a storyteller, and I used the voice-over to place the film-- and the audience-- in a darkened planet somewhere in our solar system.

[–] treetherealest 17 years ago

Thanks for the real answer Seth.

[–] vince_cadena 16 years ago

I was curious about that too, the second post definitely made sense.

[–] mattslittlebrother 14 years ago

Cheers Seth :D

[–] FilmBoy (1188) 2 years ago

I thought they did it so they could keep making $ putting out the same fire all the time.