Aguirre, the Wrath of God
A few decades after the destruction of the Inca Empire, a Spanish expedition led by the infamous Aguirre leaves the mountains of Peru and goes down the Amazon River in search of the lost city of El Dorado. When great difficulties arise, Aguirre’s men start to wonder whether their quest will lead them to prosperity or certain death.
Critics Sentiment
Aguirre alone with monkeys proclaims his dynasty
Carvajal kills peaceful Indigenous couple for blasphemy
The film drops from the acclaimed opening mountain descent to slower character development sections, then builds to the universally praised surreal ending.
Critics consistently praise Herzog's visual mastery and Kinski's performance, with the opening and closing sequences receiving universal acclaim. While some find the middle sections occasionally slow or dull, the film's haunting atmosphere and memorable set-pieces maintain strong overall reception. The journey from breathtaking mountain vistas to final madness creates a compelling arc that reviewers find both disturbing and unforgettable.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 27
Klaus Kinski
Don Lope de Aguirre
Helena Rojo
Inés de Atienza
Del Negro
Brother Gaspar de Carvajal
Ruy Guerra
Don Pedro de Ursúa
Peter Berling
Don Fernando de Guzmán
Cecilia Rivera
Flores, Aguirre's Daughter
Daniel Ades
Perucho
Edward Roland
Okello
Alexandra Cheves
Armando Polanah
Armando
Daniel Farfán
Julio E. Martínez
Alejandro Repullés
Gonzalo Pizarro
Claus Biederstaedt
Brother Gaspar de Carvajal (voice) (uncredited)
Lothar Blumhagen
Don Pedro de Ursúa (voice) (uncredited)
Heinz Theo Branding
Don Fernando de Guzmán (voice) (uncredited)
Christian Brückner
Balthasar (voice) (uncredited)
Michael Chevalier
Conqueror Being Beheaded (voice) (uncredited)
Norbert Gescher
Conqueror (voice) (uncredited)
Justo González
González (uncredited)
Crew
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