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Heart of Glass (film)
Encyclopedia
Heart of Glass is a 1976 film written, directed, and produced by Werner Herzog
, set in 18th century Bavaria
. The main character is "Hias," based on the legendary Bavarian prophet Mühlhiasl
.
n town with a glassblowing
factory which produces a brilliant red ruby glass
. When the master glass blower dies, the secret to producing the ruby glass is lost, and the town gradually sinks into disorder and madness. The main character is Hias, a seer from the hills, who speaks prophecy to the townspeople.
. Every actor in every scene was hypnotized, with the exception of the character Hias, and the professional glassblowers who appear in the film. The hypnotized actors give very odd performances, giving a very uncommon stylization to the acting. Much of the mysterious dialog of the film was ad lib
bed by the actors while under hypnosis.
The majority of the film was shot in Bavaria, just miles from where Herzog was born and raised. Other brief shots (without any of the cast in them) were filmed in various locations around the world that Herzog scouted out, among the locations was Yellowstone National Park
. The conclusion of the film was shot on the Skellig Islands
.
Herzog, along with other members of the crew, has a cameo as one of the men carrying a load of ruby glass to the river.
Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog Stipetić , known as Werner Herzog, is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director.He is often considered as one of the greatest figures of the New German Cinema, along with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner...
, set in 18th century Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. The main character is "Hias," based on the legendary Bavarian prophet Mühlhiasl
Mühlhiasl
Muhlhiasl of Apoig was a Bavarian prophet. Historians are uncertain as to whether Muhlhiasl and the legendary Bavarian cowherd and seer Matthias Stormberger are actually the same...
.
Plot synopsis
The setting is an 18th century BavariaBavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n town with a glassblowing
Glassblowing
Glassblowing is a glassforming technique that involves inflating molten glass into a bubble, or parison, with the aid of a blowpipe, or blow tube...
factory which produces a brilliant red ruby glass
Cranberry glass
Cranberry glass is a red glass made by adding gold chloride to molten glass. Tin, in the form of stannous chloride, is sometimes added in tiny amounts as a reducing agent...
. When the master glass blower dies, the secret to producing the ruby glass is lost, and the town gradually sinks into disorder and madness. The main character is Hias, a seer from the hills, who speaks prophecy to the townspeople.
Production
During shooting, almost all of the actors performed while under hypnosisHypnosis
Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
. Every actor in every scene was hypnotized, with the exception of the character Hias, and the professional glassblowers who appear in the film. The hypnotized actors give very odd performances, giving a very uncommon stylization to the acting. Much of the mysterious dialog of the film was ad lib
Ad libitum
Ad libitum is Latin for "at one's pleasure"; it is often shortened to "ad lib" or "ad-lib"...
bed by the actors while under hypnosis.
The majority of the film was shot in Bavaria, just miles from where Herzog was born and raised. Other brief shots (without any of the cast in them) were filmed in various locations around the world that Herzog scouted out, among the locations was Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
. The conclusion of the film was shot on the Skellig Islands
Skellig Islands
The Skellig Islands , once known as the Skellocks, are two small, steep, and rocky islands lying about 13 km west of Bolus Head on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland...
.
Herzog, along with other members of the crew, has a cameo as one of the men carrying a load of ruby glass to the river.