Prediction: Herzog - Best Director

In 1997 Herzog released "Little Dieter needs to fly" a documentary about Dieter Dengler, a German boy who became obsessed with flying after watching Allied fighter planes as his hometown was reduced to rubble during World War II. He later emigrated to the US and joined the US Navy, which shipped him out to Vietnam. While flying a mission over Laos he was shot down, and ended up a prisoner of the North Vietnamese army. After enduring torture and imprisonment in a bamboo cage he escaped.

For "Little Dieter" Herzog took Dengler back to Laos to recreate his ordeal. The film won many awards.

Now Herzog is retelling the story as a feature film. "Rescue Dawn" stars Christian Bale and Steve Zahn.

The New Yorker article is HERE