German Director Werner Herzog encountered the random violence of nature he speaks of so often as he was shot by a crazed fan during a BBC interview. In classic Herzog fashion, the 63 year old director stated "Someone is shooting at us. We must go." The interview continued, however, as Herzog's pants became stained with blood. Herzog commented, "It was not a significant bullet. I am not afraid." Thanks Fabio! Link to Yahoo story.
UPDATE: Two days before being shot, a Jesus-like Herzog pulled Joaquin Phoenix out of a car wreck.
UPDATE 2: Listener Evan has found a link to the video of the shooting: start streaming video.
That Werner... what a character!
Posted by: The Utah Resistance | February 07, 2006 at 05:51 PM
For an eye witness account listen to Mark Kermode on BBC Radio Five Live (February 3rd 2006 archive) - he was the interviewer when Herzog took one in the hip.
Posted by: Anthony Dolphin | February 07, 2006 at 07:08 PM
Dood, that ain't nothing. Werner just recently rescued Joachim Phoenix from a car accident.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-phoenix2feb02,0,6600731.story?coll=la-home-headlines
Werner truly is the Man O' Steel.
Posted by: impboy | February 07, 2006 at 08:45 PM
"It was not a significant bullet. I am not afraid." is the greatest quote ever.
True, a man who trapped himself in the jungle with Klaus Kinski, twice, has little to be afraid of.
Posted by: Chuck Jones | February 07, 2006 at 08:48 PM
If anybody finds audio of the BBC interview, please let me know!
-ken
Posted by: Station Manager Ken | February 07, 2006 at 09:30 PM
Wtf is this? Bizarro World Karma?
Posted by: Jeff | February 08, 2006 at 01:14 AM
It doesn't contain all of Herzog's wonderful phrases mentioned in the article, but video (!!) footage is here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/ukfs_news/hi/bb_wm_fs.stm?&news=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1&nol_storyid=4681050
and the aforementioned recounting of the shooting by the interviewer is available (at around 8:42) here:
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/downloadtrial/fivelive/markkermodesfilmreviews/markkermodesfilmreviews_20060203-1505_40_st.mp3
no footage found (yet!) of him pulling the phoenix from the wreckage.
Posted by: evan cordes | February 08, 2006 at 03:44 AM
Um, why did Warner get shot in the junk with a BB gun? Is this a Theo Van Gogh thing, or a "Hey John Malkovich, heads up" thing?
Posted by: dgaicun | February 09, 2006 at 09:37 AM
"Accidentally with my trowel I kill a flower. The world is chaos. I am unsuccessful at crying."
Posted by: Dunkman | February 10, 2006 at 04:01 PM