Freeview film of the day : tuesday 18th of February

Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010 90min.) [Film4 1.55am wednesday &+1]

Werner Herzog's documentary explores the Chauvet caves of Southern France, which contain the oldest examples of cave painting yet discovered. The film explores the 32,000-year-old depictions of people and animals and contemplates why humans have always felt a need to document their lives and the world around them.

If you've seen Herzog's 2007 film Encounters at the End of the World, about life in the Arctic, you'll know that he is very skilled at the documentary form.

This look at the vast Chauvet caverns filled with stunning Paleolithic art (which were only discovered in 1994) is beautifully shot and constructed.

Herzog himself narrates and, though he stays away from his usual obsessions of death and the void, his heavy accent and florid style does veer a bit close to parody at times.

Despite that it's a superb film, especially given the difficulties of filming and the limitations on the amount of equipment available to him.
The assured camera movements, lighting and Ernst Reijseger's score all combine to deliver a fascinating piece of work.