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."