Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
What: “Grizzly Man”
Why: You probably watched this, or heard about it, when it was released in 2005, but it’s worth a revisit. Legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog follows failed actor and self-styled environmentalist Timothy Treadwell into the wilderness of Alaska’s Katmai National Park, where Treadwell spent 13 summers living among the grizzly bears that congregate there. Using Treadwell’s own video diaries and interviews with friends, family and park employees, Herzog paints a picture of a deeply troubled man convinced that he alone can protect these enormous carnivores from encroaching civilization. In reality, the grizzlies are very well protected — it is Treadwell (and his girlfriend, who accompanies him on the fatal trip) who is in danger. What seems at first merely the tale of an unusual life and tragic death turns out to be an incredibly moving meditation on humans and their place in nature, and a meta-commentary on the power of film. A great starting point for anyone looking to get into Herzog’s incredible body of work.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
How: You can browse and request DVDs online by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. To view our collection of streaming movies and TV, go to kanopy.com/keyslibraries and set up an account with your library card. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? info@keyslibraries.org.
Recommended by: Laura Bernazzoli, library associate, Key West library.
See previous Reel Recs at keyslibraries.org/reel-recs.
