Fitzcarraldo (1982), directed by Werner Herzog and starring Klaus Kinski, is one of the most infamous productions in film history — a movie about obsession that was itself created through obsession. But how much of this Amazonian fever dream is rooted in real history?

We explore the true story behind Fitzcarraldo, from the rubber boom in Peru to the real-life figure who inspired the film, Carlos Fermín Fitzcarrald. What drove European entrepreneurs deep into the jungle in search of fortune? And how accurately does the film depict the brutal economic and colonial realities of the late 19th-century Amazon?

We also go behind the scenes of Herzog’s legendary production — from hauling a real steamship over a mountain to the volatile relationship between Herzog and Kinski. Was this filmmaking genius, reckless ambition, or something closer to madness? And does the story of the film’s creation ultimately overshadow the story it’s trying to tell?

Plus: opera in the jungle, cinematic obsession taken to the extreme, the fine line between art and exploitation, and whether Fitzcarraldo is the ultimate “impossible film” ever made.

📩 Think Herzog crossed the line — or created a masterpiece? Have a favourite story about chaotic film productions? Email us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.