Sealed shut by a landslide for 20,000 years until it was finally discovered in 1994, the Chauvet Cave in southern France contains some of the oldest known examples of prehistoric art. By comparison, the famous cave art of Lascaux is roughly half as old. Since Chauvet’s discovery, access has been extremely restricted due to concerns that overexposure, even to human breath, could damage the priceless drawings. This invaluable historic site had been open only to a select group of scientists until legendary director Werner Herzog obtained extraordinary permission to film these ancient artworks. As usual, he complements his exploration of a mysterious environment with journeys into the human environment that has grown up around it, amusingly interviewing scientists and local residents and indulging in typically Herzogian philosophizing throughout.  The result is a quiet and captivating documentary that not only raises questions about history and art, but the nature of creation and the eternal struggle of mankind to understand.

(Toronto)