Werner Herzog’s Twilight World: AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD & LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY + Book Signing

Monday, June 20, 2022

Werner Herzog returns to IFC Center on Monday, June 20 for screenings of AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD and LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY!

Q&A with director Werner Herzog at 6:00pm show of AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD and extended introduction at 7:15pm show of LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY.

A book signing of Herzog’s new book The Twilight World, his first novel, will follow each screening!

An unforgettable portrait of madness and power, AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD celebrates its 50th anniversary! In the mid-16th century, after annihilating the Incan empire, Pizarro leads his army of conquistadors over the Andes into the heart of the most savage environment on earth in search of the fabled City of Gold, El Dorado. As the soldiers battle starvation, Indians, the forces of nature, and each other, Don Lope de Aguirre (Klaus Kinski), “The Wrath of God,” is consumed with visions of conquering all of South America and revolts, leading his own army down a treacherous river on a doomed quest into oblivion.

LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY, a documentary that blurs the lines between fact and fiction, follows Dieter Dengler — the son of a Nazi slain during the war — who dreamed about becoming a pilot. At age 18, he left his country with only a few cents to his name and emigrated to the U.S. Landing in San Francisco, he worked odd jobs until he was accepted into the Navy and began pilot training. He was sent to Vietnam around 1966 and on his first mission was shot down and taken prisoner. There, the Vietcong tortured and starved him until Dengler engineered a hair-raising escape and eventually returned to the U.S. where his heroic life story was forgotten… until now.

In his first novel The Twilight World, Werner Herzog tells the story of Hiroo Onoda, a former soldier famous for having quixotically defended an island in the Philippines for decades after World War II, unaware that the fighting was over. This book is a classic Herzoggian story, a stranger-than-fiction tale of obsession and of the indomitable nature of the human spirit.

Signing is open to ticketholders for the 6pm June 20 show. Copies of The Twilight World are limited, so pre-order yours when you buy your ticket! Merchandise purchased online before Monday, June 20 will be available for pickup at IFC Center on the day of the signing.

At 12:00pm ET on Thu Jun 9, tickets will be on sale for members only! General admission tickets will go on sale at 12:00pm ET on Fri Jun 10. Tickets are $20 for members, $25 general admission.

Series Films

Past Films