Fitzcarraldo (1982 Werner Herzog & scr)

Opera and Amazon?? In common with other H films throws out intriging ideas and bewitching imagery such as 'the bit of creation God left unfinished' and the elder Indians for whom the everyday is an illusion and reality lies in dreams.

The steamer, halfway up the hill, and knowing we're really watching Indians do this.

Always the humour (the whole task seems pointless, as he sells her boat and invests in an opera; after the successful traverse, the Indians let the steamer go into the rapids; the pig.)

Great to see Claudia Cardinale. Miguel Angel Fuentes (as the engineer Cholo) and Huerequeque Enrique Bohorquez ('you are the cleverest drunkard who ever staggered across this earth') also memorable, as is Popol Vuh's music and Thomas Mauch's photography (also Aguirre, Stroszek and - oddly enough - ID).

Kinski kept making me think of Alistair Sim and Tom Barley.