The Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2011)

In a summer of superheroes run amok, “The Cave of Forgotten Dreams” is pure nirvana for anyone with an appreciation for art and history, and a chance to sit in a theater and be “wowed” to the back of your soul. Director Werner Herzog (“Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans”) is back in documentary mode here, talking heads and all. The Chauvet Cave is real, located in southern France uncomfortably close to nuclear plant and highways. Inside its walls are hundreds of images of animals and mass hunts, drawn by hand nearly 40,000 years ago, then taken over by bears (scratch marks on the walls) and then a second artist. It laid undisturbed for much of human history until discovered – almost stumbled upon – in 1994. Herzog also serves as narrator, interviewer and lighting tech, as access to the cave is limited. For long stretches, Herzog –cool voice – keeps his pie hole shut, and just lets his cameras glide over the artwork – etchings of bears and horses and rams, telling their own story. I got goose bumps. A