Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Directors Werner Herzog and Errol Morris make a bet which results in Herzog living up to his promise that he would eat his shoe if Errol Morris ever completed the film Gates of Heaven.
A genuinely singular piece of cinema history: Herzog publicly boiling and eating his shoe at Chez Panisse is a one-of-a-kind event that doubles as a meditation on artistic commitment and the nature of filmmaking. The novelty is unmatched — no other short film is quite like this. The 'plot' (such as it is) hinges on a delightful and meaningful bet, and Herzog's accompanying remarks on cinema and ambition elevate it beyond mere stunt. Cinematography is workmanlike documentary fare, and the 'acting' category doesn't really apply — Herzog is simply himself, charismatic but unpolished. The ending is satisfying but brief. Its lasting appeal rests almost entirely on its absolute distinctiveness and the philosophical weight Herzog manages to inject into an absurdist act.