[CFF 2020] ‘His and Herzog’ Review: Hilarious short about spousal communication

You know that thing when you are trying to find the right words to express yourself, but you can’t, so you think “what would famous documentarian Werner Herzog do?” Well, if you have found yourself in a similar situation, then this is the film for you. His and Herzog is a clever, creative, and artfully funny film about a wife who has nothing left to say to her oblivious husband. In response, she only speaks in Herzog’s voice and says the strange things Herzog says.

The short film chronicles a week in their lives. The husband is completely oblivious to the dark thoughts swirling around his wife’s head. The wife’s thoughts and words range from odd to foreboding and threatening. During this time, the couple start to reveal more to each other about their innermost feelings.

Written, directed, and produced by Gates Bradley, His and Herzog shows a couple who seem to live comfortable lifestyles. Unfortunately, they no longer know how to listen to each other. Bradley’s direction and style fits the quirky yet classy feel of the two. Shots are framed like elegant portraits in a museum, reinforcing the theme that things, people, and feelings are not always as they appear.

The husband, played by Max Silvestri gives a comedic performance as he rambles and talks over the intense atmosphere created by his wife with her body language. The wife, played by Amy Seimetz, delivers so much with her facial expressions alone as she mouths the eccentric out of context words of Werner Herzog.

Stylish and hilarious, His and Herzog is a fun film that manages to say a lot about the solitude found in relationships while being laugh out loud funny. His and Herzog also shows that even in the most awkward situations, there is a Werner Herzog quote for every situation.

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