Theatre of Thought

In his book Of Walking in Ice (1988), Werner Herzog was already writing: “while walking, so many things pass through one's head, the brain rages”. He willingly admits that he has been “fascinated by its mysteries” for decades. With Theatre of Thought, he has “decided to go on a road trip, a journey through the mind”. The filmmaker heads to the United States to interview scientific experts who are specialists in the field of neuroscience and artificial intelligence (including one of the creators of Siri), but also entrepreneurs, surgeons, and even high-wire artist Philippe Petit – famous for his unauthorised high-wire walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Driven by his legendary curiosity, Werner Herzog - Guest of Honour of Visions du Réel 2019 - offers a fascinating and accessible plunge into our synapses, also examining the ethical and legal implications of this research, including a recent amendment to the Chilean constitution to protect brain activity. What would happen if we could read each other’s thoughts? Giving prominence to fantasy and fiction in this celebration of cinema, Herzog also explores the limits of scientific research into the human brain, as well as the urgent necessity of “neuro rights”, the rights of the brain.

Charlotte Serrand