With "Ghost Elephants," great documentarian Werner Herzog goes hunting for a chimera again

Renowned German filmmaker Werner Herzog, who has been based in the United States since 1996, is set to release "Ghost Elephants," marking his return to cinema after "Wheel of Time" in 2003. Despite his age, Herzog continues to travel the globe, driven by curiosity and a passion for the extraordinary.

"Ghost Elephants," distributed by Cinémas du Grütli and previously shown out of competition at the Venice Film Festival, investigates the possible survival of giant elephants in a secluded region of Southern Africa. Produced by National Geographic, the project might initially seem dated, given the institution's reputation for a certain style of nature filmmaking.

However, Herzog, working with a small team and his distinctive tone, succeeds in his endeavor. The film's objective extends beyond merely capturing images of a mythical creature. It delves into the very impulse behind such quests, reflecting on nature's inevitable retreat and the erosion of ancestral traditions in the face of technological globalization.