Timothy Treadwell lived for 13 summers with grizzly bears as if they were tame and loving creates before he was killed by one them. Treadwell created in total 100 hours of film footage that Werner Herzog has woven into an arresting documentary. The film is the most original piece of work that I have seen in a long time. It deserves to be seen by any serious student of the cinematographic art. Treadwell tells us that he is unable to live in “the people’s world.” Casting himself very successfully on the 100 hours of footage as an actor in a film shot in beautiful Alaska, he goes on to say that he committed himself to spending all summer protecting what he believed to be an endangered species. He constantly risks his own life and during the last two years also that of his girlfriend. MORE… Like with many borderline crazy people, there is rationality in his madness. Treadwell deep down knew that at his core he was an artist (who can only exist in relationship to society) and that he was willing to sacrifice everything to create a piece of art that had never existed before and but for him would have never seen the day of light. By taking us away from civilization into the wild and brutal world of grizzly bears, Treadwell was able to provide an entirely new perspective on civilization. He brings us right to the point where we can see: Man Grizzly.

Like with many borderline crazy people, there is rationality in his madness. Treadwell deep down knew that at his core he was an artist (who can only exist in relationship to society) and that he was willing to sacrifice everything to create a piece of art that had never existed before, and but for him would have never seen the day of light.  By taking us away from civilization into the wild and brutal world of grizzly bears, Treadwell was able to provide an entirely new perspective on civilization. He brings us right to the point where we can see: Man Grizzly.