A documentary on the chaotic production of Werner Herzog's epic Fitzcarraldo (1982), showing how the film managed to get made despite problems that would have floored a less obsessively driven director. Not only does he have major casting problems, losing both Jason Robards (health) and Mick Jagger (other commitments) halfway through shooting, but the crew gets caught up in a war between Peru and Ecuador, there are problems with the weather and the morale of cast and crew is ... (Full plot summary below)
Enjoy FREE movies and series with your Prime (USA) subscription or when you start a 30-day free trial!
| Movie Source | Available | Offers | Added | Views | Quality | Format | Rating | Link | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | UK only | 1 Month Free Trial | 22 Jun 2019 | 2994 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 67% |  Report: Broken Link |   |
| USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 21 May 2023 | 3679 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 87% | Report: Broken Link | |
| IRELAND only | 1 Month Free Trial | 06 Mar 2022 | 1173 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 80% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | UK only | 30 Day Free Trial | 02 Dec 2015 | 343 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 91% | Report: Broken Link | |
![Its HD [Burden of Dreams]](/images/logos/icons/itshd.png){kind=icon} | WORLDWIDE | ? | 13 Jan 2018 | 3347 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 85% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | UK only | 30 Day Free Trial | 07 Mar 2016 | 249 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 43% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | UK only | Free Credit | 23 Jan 2019 | 134 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 44% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | WORLDWIDE | ? | 02 Aug 2018 | 126 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 34% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | WORLDWIDE | ? | 30 May 2016 | 16 | SD / TV | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 26% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | WORLDWIDE | ? | 25 Oct 2018 | 138 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 19% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | WORLDWIDE | ? | 21 Nov 2022 | 19 | SD / TV | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 19% | Report: Broken Link | |
Links compiled using automated software. Availability of offers subject to change / might be region specific / out of date.
| Movie Source | Available | Offers | Added | Views | Quality | Format | Rating | Link | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK only | 30 Day Free Trial | 02 Jul 2016 | 2669 | SD / DVD | DVD RentalRent by Post | 77% |  Report: Broken Link | |
 | UK only | N/A | 02 Jul 2016 | 71 | SD / DVD | DVD RentalRent by Post | 26% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 02 Jul 2016 | 56 | SD / DVD | DVD RentalRent by Mail | 14% | Report: Broken Link | |
| USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 02 Jul 2016 | 8223 | SD / DVD | DVD RentalRent by Mail | 80% | Report: Broken Link | |
| Movie Source | Available | Offers | Added | Views | Quality | Format | Rating | Link | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK only | 30 Day Free Trial | 07 Feb 2026 | 311 | HD / BR | Blu Ray RentalRent by Post | 77% | Report: Broken Link | |
| UK only | N/A | 07 Feb 2026 | 29 | HD / BR | Blu Ray RentalRent by Post | 43% | Report: Broken Link | |
| USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 02 Jul 2016 | 832 | HD / BR | Blu Ray RentalRent by Mail | 13% | Report: Broken Link | |
| USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 07 Feb 2026 | 8139 | HD / BR | Blu Ray RentalRent by Mail | 100% | Report: Broken Link | |
A documentary on the chaotic production of Werner Herzog's epic Fitzcarraldo (1982), showing how the film managed to get made despite problems that would have floored a less obsessively driven director. Not only does he have major casting problems, losing both Jason Robards (health) and Mick Jagger (other commitments) halfway through shooting, but the crew gets caught up in a war between Peru and Ecuador, there are problems with the weather and the morale of cast and crew is falling rapidly.
Leave your thoughts about Burden of Dreams.
| Filmcritic.comChristopher NullStrangely, Burden of Dreams is a better film than Fitzcarraldo, if only because you get to see the fictional portions of the film along with the backstory |
| ReelTalk Movie ReviewsDonald J. LevitGramophone music soothes the savage breast, and operatic human excess defines director and obsession as well as his lead character. |
| Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertLes Blank's Burden of Dreams is one of the most remarkable documentaries ever made about the making of a movie. |
| Ozus' World Movie ReviewsDennis SchwartzRemarkably candid behind-the-scenes documentary. |
| All Movie GuideJosh RalskeA fascinating portrait of a filmmaker pushed to the outer edge of sanity... |
| Washington PostGary ArnoldAt best "Burden of Dreams" offers a superficial, inconclusive impression of an esoteric project whose distribution is bound to be haphazard. |
| Chicago ReaderDave KehrThe film is at once funny and, in its depiction of the scant differences between art and megalomania, somewhat frightening. |
| Old School ReviewsJohn A. Nesbitnot only captures the dramatic moments where Herzog risks life and limb ... , but he includes small details that provide necessary natural respites from Herzog's 'madness' |
| User ReviewCeda XNo one will love movie making as much as Werner Herzog |
| User ReviewEd BMuch better than the actual Fitzcarraldo film, this is a grueling and heartbreaking journey of a filmmaker who could care less about fame and fortune. He simply has a dream to tell a great story and tell it as realistically and authentically as possible. This is part of his problem. |
