**Werner Herzog’s *Theater of Thought*: An Expedition into the Mysteries of the Mind**
Werner Herzog, the iconic filmmaker celebrated for his deep curiosity and distinctive narrative style, has once again trekked into new realms with his recent documentary, *Theater of Thought*. This ambitious film delves into the mysterious functions of the human brain, merging science, philosophy, and Herzog’s trademark eccentricity. With more than 60 films to date, Herzog has explored a wide range of themes, from the haunting allure of Chauvet Cave in *Cave of Forgotten Dreams* to the untamed wilderness of Alaska in *Grizzly Man*. In *Theater of Thought*, he embarks on what may be his boldest venture yet: to decode the enigmas of thought, consciousness, and reality.
### The Birth of *Theater of Thought*
The catalyst for *Theater of Thought* emerged from Herzog’s discussions with Rafael Yuste, a neurobiologist from Columbia University and one of the scientific consultants for the film. Yuste’s insights into brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and the moral challenges of neurotechnology laid the groundwork for Herzog’s investigation. “How can we interpret thoughts? Is it possible to embed a chip in your brain and in mine, allowing us to view my new film without a camera?” Herzog muses in his director’s statement. These inquiries, both playful and significant, establish the tone for a documentary that reflects the filmmaker’s quest for knowledge as much as it delves into neuroscience.
Making its debut at the 2022 Telluride Film Festival, *Theater of Thought* has attracted attention for its unconventional style. Although the subject matter is rigorously scientific, Herzog avoids the typical science documentary format. Instead, he undertakes a personal, almost whimsical exploration, interweaving interviews, philosophical reflections, and unforeseen diversions. As Herzog describes it, the film resembles a “road movie,” where each theme becomes a Monument Valley or Mount Everest of intellectual inquiry.
### A Spectrum of Curiosity
Herzog’s conversations with top scientists and thinkers are the documentary’s core. Featured are IBM’s Dario Gil, an expert in quantum computing; neuroscientist Christof Koch, recognized for his research on consciousness; and Rajesh Rao from the University of Washington, a trailblazer in brain-to-brain communication. Yet, true to Herzog’s approach, these dialogues frequently drift into unanticipated realms. For example, while conversing with Siri co-creator Tom Gruber, Herzog becomes engrossed in a video of a school of fish on Gruber’s TV. This leads to a discussion about collective behavior, the possibility of dreaming among fish, and the essence of underwater consciousness.
Herzog’s skill in revealing the humanity of his subjects is another defining feature of the film. He discusses dinner conversations with married neuroscientists Cori Bargmann and Richard Axel and their views on the linguistic skills of parrots. He features music from Joseph LeDoux’s band, the Amygdaloids, in the soundtrack. He even touches on the personal interests of his interviewees, such as Dario Gil’s affinity for fishing, creating authentic moments of joy and connection.
### The Pleasure of Discovery
For Herzog, the journey holds equal significance to the endpoint. This belief resonates throughout the film’s structure, which often resembles a stream of consciousness rather than a sequential narrative. One moment, Herzog is exploring the mechanics of fear with Joseph LeDoux; the next, he visits Philippe Petit, the tightrope walker renowned for crossing the Twin Towers in 1974, to investigate the theme of overcoming fear. These seemingly unrelated threads are woven together by Herzog’s boundless curiosity and his readiness to pursue his questions wherever they may lead.
This method also permits Herzog to forge unexpected links. At one point, he wonders if brain-reading technology could facilitate communication with the deceased, prompting him to incorporate a clip from the 1930 Soviet silent film *Earth*. “It ties into the joy of filmmaking,” Herzog elaborates. “At the film’s start, an elderly peasant is passing away beneath an apple tree, surrounded by a large pile of apples. The other peasants gather around him, and one inquires, ‘Can you provide us with a sign, when you are dead, to determine if paradise exists?’ It’s such a beautiful opening to a film.”
### The Boundaries of Understanding
Despite the film’s extensive aspirations, Herzog is acutely aware of the boundaries of human comprehension. “Not a single one of the scientists, not one, can even articulate what a thought is, and not one can clearly define consciousness,” he remarks. Nevertheless, for Herzog, this ambiguity is not a cause for frustration but a source of marvel. “There are unresolved questions that will likely remain unresolved for a very, very long time. But
