Grizzly Man // Scene Analysis (40:44 - 44:41)

LINK TO THE FULL DOCUMENTARY

In this scene in the documentary Grizzly Man (2005, by Werner Herzog), Herzog tries to create an element of empathy for Timothy Treadwell. Treadwell is humanised and is portrayed as good and pure to manipulate the audience in to believing in him as a lovable protagonist.

• At the beginning of this scene we see Treadwell standing in the lake, posing for the camera by pretending to film something.
• There is background music of very slow and sombre violin noises; this is trying to manipulate the audience by evoking an emotional response for Treadwell as this music in combination with the shot tries to portray him as isolated or distant from the real world.
• Werner Herzog narration: "Beyond his posings, the camera was his only present companion. It was his instrument to explore the world around him; but increasingly it became something more, he started to scrutinise his inner most being, his demons, his exhilarations. Facing the lens of a camera, took on the quality of a confessional."
• In Herzog's narration it tries to prove Treadwell and flawed to make him mor of a three-dimensional character/protagonist. This extremely prevalent when he says "he started to scrutinise his inner most being, his demons, his exhilarations".
• The shot changes to Treadwell interviewing himself in the woods.
• Herzog's narration: "Covering various years, the following samples illustrate the search for himself."
• Treadwell stands addressing the camera directly.
• Treadwell: "I have no idea if there is a God. But God would be very very proud of me."

Grizzly Man // Scene Analysis - 'Mr Chocolate'

Treadwell has an ‘observational' and 'sentimental' approach to documentary film making - one in conflict with Herzog, his agenda is often to show the harsh reality and danger of nature.

“Im here with one of my favourite bears, Mr Chocolate” [he turns to face the bear] “Hey Mr Chocolate!”

At the beginning of the scene are very peaceful and tranquil - not causing much conflict at all

An acoustic guitar is playing in the background as Treadwell says goodbye to the bears until next summer

The music is sombre and uplifting - Treadwell talks about the bears being under human threat and how he will protect them - the music manipulates us in to believing in Treadwell and his sentimental mission for nature

The use of non-diegetic sound (music) greatly effects any footage of documentary in terms of the representation of truth and the audiences emotions.

Herzog uses the music to anchor ‘his’ images to reinforce the sentimental agenda of Treadwell’s footage.

Herzog’s set-ups question the actuality and observational nature of Treadwell’s film - i.e. the footage of the bears fighting aggressively over a fish, which could connote the lengths bears will go to to satisfy their hunger (they will not hesitate to be aggressive)

As with any narrative film conflict is key to audience engagement - the scene shows the conflict in agenda between Treadwell’s ‘sentimentality’ approach at the start as opposed to Herzog’s harsh reality of the bears at the end of the scene

Treadwell pauses before turning off the camera as a fox and her cubs wander past and interact with Treadwell.

Foxes are often portrayed as violent are peaceful and tranquil in the presence of Treadwell (similar to that of the bears). MANIPULATION.

“As a film maker somethings just fall in to your lap

The use of the voice over can be problematic in terms of audience response to a text emotionally - with both Treadwell and Herzog the use of the voice over serves as the means to direct the audience towards their agenda Although Herzog is probably less subjective than Treadwell.

We cut to a scene of a foxes being playful and stole Treadwell’s hat - The fox isn’t playing to Treadwells camera and his ‘agenda’ / Treadwell is portrayed as immature and experts innocence from nature.

Treadwell reacts childishly by saying ‘Oh man!’ and ‘Ghost give that hat back!’ - he’s talking to the fox as if he can respond.

Tread well has a large ego - he is a young man with a troubled past (drinking / back injury etc.)