Meeting Gorbachev

In both his narrative films and his documentaries, legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog has always focused on people that live abnormal, often dangerous lives, be it volcanologists, Antarctic researchers, or 16th century conquistadors. Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, now 87, might not initially seem like one of these figures but, really, what job could be more dangerous than attempting to end the Cold War? As always, Herzog digs deep into the psychology of his subject, and over the course of three interviews, he figures out what makes Gorbachev tick. Given all that’s happening in the world, 2019 might seem like an odd time to spotlight a long-retired Russian leader. But in this engrossing, humanistic portrait, Herzog illuminates why Gorbachev—who led his people away from fascism and toward peaceful resolutions—is worthy of study now more than ever.