CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS -- A MUST SEE

“Cave of Forgotten Dreams,” the amazing Werner Herzog film that explores Chaurvet Cave is now playing in local movie theaters. (THE WEEK OF MAY 25TH)

The cave, in the Ardeche Valley of southeast France, was found in 1994 by Jean-Marie Chauvet, Eilette Brunel Deschamps and Christian Hillaire (and named for the lead speleologist).

Film-maker Herzog was allowed in the cave with his camera crew for a very limited time and yet has photographed in wonderful detail these images. They are the earliest cave paintings ever found, some from about 31,000+ years ago and others from 28,000.

Lions, bears, bison, rhinos, horses and even a leopard seemingly move across the walls. Experts with different specialties discuss the various aspects. If you want to learn more, see Dawn of Art: The Chauvet Cave by Chauvet, Deschamps and Hillaire. Epilogue by Jean Clottes and Foreword by Paul Bahn (Clottes and Bahn are preeminent in the field of cave art).