LA BALLATA DI STROSZEK (Stroszek, RFT/1977) Di Werner Herzog (115')

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LA BALLATA DI STROSZEK (Stroszek, RFT/1977) Di Werner Herzog (115') Cave of Forgotten Dreams. Il cinema di Werner Herzog Cinema Lumière – dall'8 al 24 novembre 2012 LA BALLATA DI STROSZEK (Stroszek, RFT/1977) di Werner Herzog (115') Ventidue anni di reclusione tra brefotrofi, riformatori, prigioni, manicomi, la vita di Bruno S. è la storia di un lungo calvario. Herzog scoprì Bruno S. attraverso un documentario televisivo che proponeva la sua storia come esempio di un uomo distrutto dalla società. Era un caso molto simile a quello di Kaspar Hauser, il trovatello di Norimberga, l'uomo che non aveva partecipato alla società ma ne era stato escluso e che Herzog si accingeva a portare sullo schermo. Da allora Bruno S. è diventato per Herzog il modello vivente di quel conflitto fra individuo e società che è il motivo dominante del jung deutsche Film; da allora Bruno S. continua a rivivere anche davanti alla macchina da presa il suo ruolo di emarginato offrendo uno straordinario saggio di straniamento, pur senza conoscere Brecht, con i suoi tic, il suo sguardo distaccato, i suoi movimenti legnosi. Bruno S. è il simbolo di una tragica condizione umana, dell'innocenza tradita, dell'escluso vittima di tutte le violenze individuali e sociali. È il bimbo prematuro (come sottolinea Herzog per accostamento in una scena del film) che si aggrappa disperatamente a tutti gli appigli che gli si offrono e non a caso per lui l'America è il sogno dorato che si dissolve in un triste risveglio dove gli incubi della notte acquistano sembianze dalle forme reali che appaiono nella livida luce di un mattino nebbioso. Meditazione sofferta e straziante sul male che corrode la natura umana, riflessione poetica sulla vita e sulla morte, interrogativo inquietante, disperato e profondo sull'uomo, sui suoi rapporti con gli altri e sul suo ruolo nell'esistenza (ruolo simile a quello di animali in gabbia presi nell'ingranaggio senza fine di un meccanismo infernale, come evidenzia l'amaro e grottesco finale), La ballata di Stroszek ripropone un tema ricorrente nel cinema di Herzog: il conflitto fra l'uomo e i fantasmi che lo tormentano, lo inseguono e dai quali non riesce a liberarsi se non nella follia, come Aguirre, o nel buio della morte, come Stroszek. Enzo Natta Chi oltre a Werner Herzog avrebbe potuto girare un film su un ex carcerato ritardato, un vecchio e una prostituta che lasciano la Germania per iniziare una nuova vita in una roulotte nel Wisconsin? Chi altri avrebbe potuto girare il film nella città natale di Ed Gein, il serial killer che ispirò Psycho? Chi altri avrebbe fatto interpretare gli abitanti del luogo dagli abitanti stessi? Chi avrebbe concluso il film con un poliziotto che dice via radio: “Abbiamo un camion in fiamme, non riusciamo a spegnere lo ski lift, e non riusciamo a fermare il pollo danzante. Mandate un elettricista”? Stroszek è uno dei film più strani che siano mai stati fatti. È impossibile per lo spettatore prevedere anche una singola inquadratura o svolta narrativa. Osserviamo rapiti in una sorta di incanto, perché Herzog libera il racconto e segue i suoi personaggi lungo la logica implacabile della loro avventura. C'è inoltre l'impatto indimenticabile della performance di Bruno S., che in ogni istante interpreta se stesso. La storia personale di Bruno S. dà forma al clima psicologico del film. Bruno è figlio di una prostituta, picchiato così duramente da diventare sordo per un certo tempo. È stato ricoverato in un ospedale psichiatrico dai 3 ai 26 anni, anche se, secondo Herzog, non aveva disturbi mentali. Herzog vide Bruno in un documentario. Lo ingaggiò per un film straordinario, L'enigma di Kaspar Hauser. Bruno era incredibilmente adatto per il ruolo, così come per Stroszek. Roger Ebert.
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