In this blog post, we will examine Werner Herzog’s documentary ‘Encounters at the End of the World’ to explore how the film conveys “encounters” and a sense of the sublime through its imagery and sound.

Film Overview

‘Encounters at the End of the World’ (2007) is a documentary produced in the United States and directed by Werner Herzog. The director also appears in the film.
Synopsis: After being captivated by underwater footage shot by a friend who is a professional diver, Herzog sets off for the “end of the world”—Antarctica. There, he encounters diverse people and breathtaking Antarctic landscapes, using the human figures and the vast natural world to explore his philosophical reflections.

Reasons for Selection and Key Scenes

Reasons for Selection

I chose this film because I’ve always loved the sense of wonder that “encounters” bring in science fiction movies. The shock and wonder I felt in Robert Zemeckis’s ‘Contact’ or Steven Spielberg’s ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’—encounters with the unknown—led me to reflect on my own existence and dreams. If we view dreams as “another world,” this film—which deals with encounters with another world—poses questions about the reason for my existence and the direction I should take.

Key Scenes and Strengths

The most intriguing scene is when people press their ears against the ice surface to listen to the strange sounds made by a seal. The seal’s sounds possess an indescribable strangeness, and even the reason why people engage in such behavior remains a mystery. This question itself can be seen as the one Herzog poses throughout the film.
The scene in the latter half of the film where penguins walk toward the 5,000-kilometer mark, as well as the words of the philosopher quoted by the heavy equipment operator, bring these questions and answers to a climax and aid in understanding. In particular, the earlier scene is impressive for its approach of conveying the message directly to the audience through images and sound alone, without narration.
Furthermore, the film offers a unique perspective by presenting scientific subjects—such as the bizarre landscapes beneath the ice, hydrothermal vents formed by volcanic activity, microscopic observations of marine insects and their DNA sequences, and high-performance camera footage of magma eruptions—in a cinematic and, at times, dreamlike manner.

Analysis: Narrative and Form

The film begins with the director explaining why he wanted to go to Antarctica after watching underwater footage shot by a friend. Subsequently, the director travels to Antarctica and observes and describes the people he meets along the way, their words and actions, and the work they do. The narrative unfolds almost like a diary, proceeding in a sequence of entries such as “Today I visited ~, met ~, that person told me ~, and I thought ~.”
Broadly speaking, the film organically connects the description of the itinerary, interviews and observations of the people encountered, and the director’s reflections on their actions. The film constantly raises the question of what we “encounter” in the place known as “Antarctica,” seeking meaning through observation without relying on distinct events or dramatic conflict.
The commentary and interview style are also far from clichéd. Interviewees explain their work, the director poses curious questions, and at times, he even addresses the audience directly. Rather than conveying a message indirectly like a drama, the film is straightforward, and the images and content blend naturally with the questions.
Haerjok actively utilizes a variety of materials. Archival footage, interviews, sound, and music intertwine, sometimes juxtaposing black-and-white footage of early expeditions, humorous scenes, and images that are hard to imagine. When presenting bizarre scenes, dreamlike music is added to emphasize the sublime beauty of the vast natural world.

Conclusion and Implications

Ultimately, the film evokes the fundamental question: “Why do you live?” Based on the premise that everyone has a reason for living, Hairjoke uses everything encountered in Antarctica to shed light on the grand dreams and adventures we all share. The South Pole, the destination the early expeditions first sought to reach, remains an object of observation and research even today, having lost its meaning as a conquest.
The director poses the questions “Why?” and “For what purpose?” throughout the film. For instance, in the scene where a penguin, having lost its sense of direction, walks toward a destination 5,000 km away, he directly asks, “Why on earth?” This penguin can be seen not merely as an animal but as a metaphor for humanity. Why do scientists devote themselves to research even while being certain that humanity will one day face extinction?
In another scene, we see a spell written in Hawaiian next to state-of-the-art equipment. This suggests not so much the power of the soul as it does how fragile humans are in the face of nature. The film tells us that while we strive to leave a mark, the very fact that we are alive is our reason for existence.
In the film’s finale, the heavy equipment operator quotes an American philosopher: “We perceive the existence of the universe through our eyes and listen to its harmony through our ears. We humans are the sole witnesses to the universe’s glory and majesty.” This is followed by dreamlike music, accompanied by bizarre underwater ice landscapes and previously unseen lifeforms. Ultimately, the message that our very existence is a mystery remains.

Personal Reflection

What is important in this work is not the method of drawing conclusions through specific events, but the very way the director conveys the message through his unique style. Herzog is known for his grotesque and enigmatic expressions, but if you watch the film to the end, you can feel that your thoughts and senses are being conveyed in a way that differs from a typical documentary.
He calmly explains why he came here, shows the people he meets and their thoughts, and conveys what appears to be a grand narrative by building it up steadily, like a drama. The virtue of this documentary lies in its delivery of the message through a method far more challenging than simply approaching facts to draw conclusions.
Some may find this film tedious. Yet it offers a unique experience where even that tedium transforms into a sense of wonder. The film’s thoughtful exploration of how to effectively convey its message left me with important reflections of my own.