Werner Herzog’s types of truth

Published December 5, 2025 4:05am ET



Werner Herzog has become a beloved icon in a culture that would absolutely not accommodate a young Werner Herzog. He was an ambitious, unpredictable auteur; now cinema is far more corporate and predictable. He was a fearsome risk-taker, shooting in warzones, threatening Klaus Kinski, and eating a shoe, and now health and safety protocols would constrain him. Still, we listen to a man like Herzog, perhaps to tell us what is going wrong. 

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.