Raised in a rural Bavarian town in the Alps, Werner Herzog first learned to use a telephone at the age of 17. Two years later, he had created his first film, Herakles (1961). Breakneck speed would epitomize Herzog as a filmmaker—since his teenage years, he’s created 55 feature films, including Fitzcarraldo (1982), Grizzly Man (2005), and Encounters at the End of the World (2007). A new documentary, written and directed by Thomas von Steinaecker, offers a deeper look into the German filmmaker’s oeuvre and personal life—shedding light on the eccentric figure known both for pioneering New German Cinema and for eating his own shoe after losing a bet to Errol Morris. The film crafts an admirable portrait of Herzog, who is described by Wim Wenders as “a likable but somewhat fanatical German.” —Paulina Prosnitz

Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer is available for purchase on Prime Video