Fata Morgana (1971 film)
Fata Morgana is a 1971 film by Werner Herzog, shot in 1968 and 1969, which captures mirages in the Sahara and Sahel deserts. Herzog also wrote the narration by Lotte H. Eisner, which recites the Mayan creation myth, the Popol Vuh. Production The film was shot sporadically over a 13-month period from November 1968 to December 1969. Most of the footage was shot in Africa with little notion as to how it would eventually be used. A concept and structure for the film was invented by Herzog only after filming was completed. Post production extended into 1970 as the director concentrated on completing his Even Dwarfs Started Small for its May premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Much of the film's footage consists of long tracking shots filmed by cameraman Jörg Schmidt-Reitwein from the top of a Volkswagen camper van with Herzog driving. The crew smoothed out the road themselves to prepare the shots. Herzog and the crew encountered many problems during the filming. In Cameroon they were imprisoned because cameraman Schmidt-Reitwein's name was similar to the name of a German mercenary who was hiding from the authorities and had recently been sentenced to death in absentia. They also encountered