JA, ACHTUNG. Verner Herzog here. I haff been asked to write za piece regarding mein film Into za Abyss. I personally find za idea abhorrent, more terreeble zen za feelink uff sunlight on mein skin, za laughter uff small cheeldren, or za pathetic frolicking of newborn kittens, mit za soft fur, za cacophonous mewling, oont za rideeculous ballz uff twine. But za poet must never look away. Za true poet must stare unafraid eento za hellish eentrospection uff a souzand purgatory, if only to know za feelink of being unfulfilled.

Ziss idea ist very seemeelar to mein film itself, za documentary on za subject uff capeetal punishment. I personally find za idea uff murder sanctioned by za state to be pathetically provincial, proof uff za violence oont supersteetiousness at za core uff za human nature, once we streep away za iPhones oont za Cate Blanchetts oont za Egg McMuffins oont za Schtabucks fockink coffees. But in za death row eenmate, I find a subject even more fascinating zen za caveman, or za zoo dwarf, or ewen za greezly bear. I find strange kinship viss za prisoner on za eve uff za execution, because only in za man pondering infinite nuzzinkness oont za ulteemate meaninklessness uff eine existence can za poet find his true equal. He stare eento za abyss, oont I stare eento him. Eez beautiful.

I meet za eenmates Michael Perry oont Jason Burkett, oo vere conwicted uff za keeling uff sree people, all so zey can steal a Chewy Camaro zat zey own for less zan 72 hours. For me zey represent za absurdity uff za American dream. Zat zey vere weel-ing to murder a leettle old lady vhile she bake za cookies only so zey can take za joyride een za muscle car expose za jealous, wicked heart uff capitaleezm. Zeess make zem, een zair weelingness to murder za cookie lady, more fascinating to me zan all za waving presidents, smiling CEOs, oont stutterink fockink princes put togezzah.

I talk viss za guards een za preesons, za veectims uff a murderers, za families uff za condemned, oont za death row chaplains zat hold za hands uff za eenmate, oont vhisper words uff ancient supersteetion eento za ears as za muzzle ist slowly placed against za back uff za skull. I tell za preeson chaplain, "Describe za encounter viss za squirrel," for eet is only through za bushy tail uff za common tree rodent zat one can fully understand za senselessness uff capeetal punishment. I stare eento zee abyss, oont I invite za viewer to stare viss me. Eet is only een za abyss zat za poet find true beauty.

Cinema 21