Werner Herzog’s Aguirre, The Wrath of God, starring Klaus Kinski, comes back in a stunning 4K restoration on BFI UHD and Blu-ray, packed with extras for cinephiles and Herzog devotees.
Released on BFI UHD and Blu-ray on 25 August 2025, Aguirre, The Wrath of God marks a breathtaking return to one of Werner Herzog’s most revered masterpieces. Newly restored in 4K, this visceral and hypnotic film plunges into themes of megalomania, obsession and savage beauty, with Klaus Kinski delivering one of his most acclaimed performances as Don Lope de Aguirre.
The film: madness, conquest and the Amazon
Set in the 16th century, the film follows Aguirre, a power‑crazed Spanish conquistador who leads a splinter group of soldiers, priests and slaves on a doomed expedition down the Amazon in search of El Dorado, the legendary City of Gold. Shot entirely on location in the wild Amazonian jungle, in areas near Machu Picchu, the movie captures a sense of physical danger and psychological breakdown that feels almost documentary in its immediacy.
Herzog’s direction frames the jungle as both luscious and lethal—a green hell that mirrors Aguirre’s descent into madness. The drifting rafts, endless river currents and fog‑shrouded forests become a visual metaphor for hubris, colonial violence and the collapse of reason, making the film a cornerstone of 1970s art‑house cinema.
The 4K BFI restoration: image, sound and formats
The BFI edition presents Aguirre, The Wrath of God in a newly restored 4K version, with image and sound upgrades designed to honor Herzog’s original vision:
- UHD 4K Blu-ray with Dolby Vision and HDR10, offering richer contrast, deeper blacks and more nuanced jungle textures
- 4K‑restored Blu-ray with a High Definition 1080p presentation
- Original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, preserving the film’s intended framing
- German audio with English subtitles, plus audio tracks in PCM mono and 5.1 DTS‑HD MA
Product details – UHD
RRP: £27.99
Running time: 93 minutes
Resolution: 2160p
Audio: PCM mono and 5.1 DTS‑HD MA, German with English subtitles
Product details – Blu-ray
RRP: £19.99
Running time: 93 minutes
Resolution: 1080p
Same language and aspect‑ratio specifications as the UHD edition
Special features: commentary, shorts and Fata Morgana
The BFI release is designed as a comprehensive Herzog package, loaded with contextual and archival materials:
- Audio commentary by Werner Herzog on Aguirre, The Wrath of God
- Additional commentary with Herzog and Crispin Glover on Fata Morgana
- Mark Kermode’s personal introduction to Aguirre (2024), offering critical insight and historical context
- “A Raft of Troubles: Herzog, Kinski and the Art of Darkness” – a 19‑minute documentary exploring the volatile collaboration between director and actor
- A curated selection of Herzog’s 1960s short films, including:
- Fata Morgana (1971) – a 77‑minute hallucinatory feature that drifts through deserts, myths and mirages, expanding the thematic universe around Aguirre
- Original theatrical trailer, image gallery, and multiple audio options in German and English
For collectors, the first pressing includes an illustrated booklet featuring essays by Geoff Andrew, Laurie Johnson, Kim Heaney and Richard Combs, offering critical analysis, production background and reflections on Herzog’s cinema.
Where to buy: BFI editions and availability
The BFI UHD and Blu-ray editions of Aguirre, The Wrath of God are available through:
- Major home entertainment retailers (online and in‑store)
- The BFI Shop at BFI Southbank in London
- The official BFI online store, for international orders and collectors looking specifically for the booklet‑included first pressing
Why this edition matters for cinephiles
This release offers cinephiles and Herzog fans an immersive, definitive home‑video experience of a totemic work. The 4K restoration restores the film’s dense jungles, misty river horizons and Kinski’s haunted gaze with new clarity, while the supplementary materials—commentaries, documentaries, shorts and Fata Morgana—frame Aguirre within Herzog’s wider exploration of madness, nature, myth and power.
For anyone interested in New German Cinema, 1970s world cinema or the radical collaborations between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski, this BFI edition is both a preservation milestone and an ideal entry point.
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