Powerful

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

This is an 18-minute movie from almost 15 years ago directed by German filmmaker Werner Herzog. There really isn't much to this short documentary. It basically shows us either pilgrims of all different ethnicities, who always look suffering, or beautiful landscapes. While we are watching, we hear a religious chant from start to finish. It's not a bad film by any means, but most of Herzog's other efforts are still better in my opinion. I am not sure about the exact release date, but it's a bit of an irony this was released pretty much the same times as the 911 attacks. It probably wasn't intended, if it even came out after these. One watch is enough here in my opinion. Fairly forgettable piece of movie-making.

"Pilgrimage" is essentially a series of shots of separate sets of pilgrims heading towards an undisclosed destination, set to music. I can sort of understand where Herzog is heading here (the quote displayed at the start of the film sort of makes things obvious), but it doesn't really seem to warrant a film, as even at 18 minutes long this feels a little stretched out and rather pointless. It is visually arresting, though, and it is an intimate portrait of something most of us don't really understand or connect with (even if we are always in a sense on a personal pilgrimage). It also isn't boring at all, although the music is a bit grating at times. All in all worth watching for Herzog enthusiasts, but a rather flat and bland film overall, with some wonderful and beautiful shots.6/10