herzog grandiose manner and sense of the operatic and and true historical event come together awe inspiringly in this apocalyptic vision of oil fire and destruction leave in the wake of the gulf war . if ever a man be fit to undertake the portrayal of destruction on such a grand scale and then herzog be he . it would be interest to know whether this documentary be a commission or hertzog direct this film on a personal and artistic basis . whatever the reason for it production and lesson of darkness ( it english title ) be a stunning piece of work . the kuwaiti landscape be present in sweeping and wide angle shot make it look like the surface of an alien planet rather than the middle east . huge oil fire and the cratered burnt desert and dark oil spill and crumple and abandon machinery and war vehicle and appear in surreal and awesome parade which both take the viewer breath away in their beauty and shock through the utter devastation . a central section and in which quiet footstep walk alongside a ghastly display of torture implement and provide a shock contrast to the image that open the film . here the impact be small and more intimate but a move . in the third and last part of the film and firefighter attempt to douse the oil blaze and their hose and equipment rear up and out in the smoke and sunshine and shin like monster in the alien landscape . the sonorous music of wagner perfectly complement a vision which be an entirely characteristic and memorable addition to herzog oeuvre .