Werner Herzog’s Thought-Provoking Journey into the Mysteries of the Human Brain

### Werner Herzog’s *Theater of Thought*: A Fascinating but Flawed Exploration of the Brain and Neurotechnology

Werner Herzog, the legendary German filmmaker and documentarian, is known for his deep dive into unusual and often profound human endeavors. His cinematic toolbox includes his keen eye for eccentric characters and his uniquely introspective narration. With his latest documentary, *Theater of Thought* (2024), Herzog embarks on an ambitious intellectual journey into the evolving landscape of neuroscience and neurotechnology. While the film offers glimpses of brilliance and some classic Herzogian moments, it struggles to deliver the depth and coherence its philosophical subject demands.

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### The Premise: Unraveling the Mind Through Neurotech

At the heart of *Theater of Thought* is Herzog’s collaboration with neuroscientist Rafael Yuste, who happens to be the co-founder of the Neurorights Foundation. The film begins with Herzog and Yuste exploring the promises and ethical dilemmas of brain-mapping tools and neurotechnological advances. One of the earliest subjects introduced is Bryan Johnson, a venture capitalist who founded Kernel, a company creating diagnostic helmets capable of mapping brain activity by analyzing blood flow.

This opening sequence is quintessential Herzog, quirky and loaded with potential. Johnson and Yuste test the helmet, and the neuroscientist humorously declares an “outrageous lie”—claiming that five plus five equals 11—to observe its brain-triggering effects. Unfortunately, the technology produces no significant output, a moment that encapsulates the anticlimactic undertones of the documentary. While the scene lays groundwork for the film’s exploration of mental activity and technological aspirations, it sets a precedent for the broader narrative: grand questions without satisfying resolutions.

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### Herzog’s Eccentrics and Missed Opportunities

Anyone familiar with Herzog’s filmography knows his ability to draw out obsessively driven characters. Whether it’s the man who befriended bears in *Grizzly Man* (2005) or the free-spirited cave explorers in *Cave of Forgotten Dreams* (2010), Herzog’s subject selection often becomes a key strength of his storytelling. Bryan Johnson, with his widely-publicized quest for eternal youth and scientific investments, seems like a tailor-made Herzogian protagonist. Strangely, the documentary doesn’t delve into the more intriguing aspects of Johnson’s personal motivations or his fringe pursuits, leaving viewers hungry for richer character profiling.

Similarly, Yuste serves as a central figure driving the story forward, as Herzog and the neuroscientist meet various experts to unpack advancements in and the societal implications of neuroscience. Topics range from neuroethics to quantum computing, and industry heavyweights like IBM Vice President Dario Gil weigh in on the future of artificial intelligence and brain-machine interfaces. However, Herzog himself admits a disconnect between the scientific jargon of experts and his ability (or the audience’s ability) to make sense of it. This lack of synthesis between complex ideas and Herzog’s signature philosophical musings leaves parts of the documentary feeling disjointed.

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### Ethical Questions and Societal Implications

One of the documentary’s recurring themes is the Neurorights Foundation’s focus on protecting mental privacy and autonomy in an era of neurotechnological breakthroughs. Herzog and Yuste raise poignant questions about the ownership of “mental data” in light of devices capable of monitoring brain activity. The ethical dilemmas surrounding such advancements evoke comparisons to the privacy concerns plaguing Big Tech.

While these ideas are thought-provoking, the film remains more of a surface-level discussion rather than an analytical deep dive. Herzog’s reluctance to challenge his subjects makes the documentary feel at times like an extended pitch for the Neurorights Foundation, rather than a critical examination of the field.

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### A Mixed Bag of Interviews

The film’s interview-driven format is where *Theater of Thought* gets mired. Herzog veers from scientist Christof Koch describing the neuroscience of consciousness to Philippe Petit, the famed tightrope artist known for walking between the Twin Towers. While Petit’s inclusion breaks up the science-heavy segments, his presence in the narrative is tenuously connected at best. Is it meant to illustrate the complexity of human creativity and thought? If so, the thematic connection isn’t clearly articulated.

That said, there are glimpses of genius in some of these interactions. Herzog lingers on Christof Koch’s serene morning rowing routine, a poetic moment that captures the intersection of body, mind, and nature. In another memorable anecdote, Herzog highlights the limitations of brain-scanning tools by citing an experiment in which a dead fish was thought to display cognitive activity. These quirky asides showcase Herzog’s knack for moments of surreal insight, but they don’t completely salvage the overall narrative’s shortcomings.

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### The Herzog Touch: Still in Full Force

Despite its structural weaknesses, *Theater of Thought* carries Herzog’s signature style, which will please longtime fans. His much-memed narration, with its w