Werner Herzog is a serious fellow. A stoic filmmaker, Herzog has captured many serene and spectacular wonders on camera; from the unforgiving icy plains of the Russian taiga to the violent, explosive cones of North Korean volcanoes. He narrates his documentaries himself in his pragmatic, accented voice, serving as the storyteller of a visual journey. As one can assume, Herzog has seen some truly heartbreakingly beautiful sights in his life. So it may come to a surprise what made Herzog weep with joy recently. It wasn’t the sun rising over the plains of the savannah, or the aurora borealis…it was the green and Grinch-like Baby Yoda on the set of Disney’s The Mandalorian.
Yeah.
In a video interview with Variety, the director gushed about the technical achievement of the Baby Yoda which was operated by two technicians via remote.
#TheMandalorian spoilers in this clip: Werner Herzog calls the surprise character everyone is freaking out over, "heartbreakingly beautiful" https://t.co/RwX3TVMqtg pic.twitter.com/mSL8Fc6GvB
— Variety (@Variety) November 15, 2019
“It is heartbreaking, it is heartbreakingly beautiful,” says Herzog.
When asked why Baby Yoda’s cuteness was so “heartbreaking,” Herzog was at a loss for words.
“I don’t know,” he said, “On the set, it looked absolutely convincing. It made you cry when you saw it.”
Let’s also note that Herzog directed Grizzly Man, a film based on the story of a man who loves bears and is ultimately devoured by the very animals he adores. Herzog is no stranger from despair and heartbreak. It’s a very unexpected moment of tenderness from an occasionally angry director. In 1999, Herzog infamously pulled a loaded gun on an actor when he threatened to walk off the set of Aguirre, Wrath Of God. Now in 2019, he weeps at the sight of Baby Yoda.
Maybe time truly heals old tempers.