Echi Da Un Mondo Oscuro [360p] (1990) Apr 2026

Unlike many Herzog films, this one lacks his signature narration, instead following , a journalist who was once imprisoned and nearly beaten to death by Bokassa.

"" (1990)—originally titled Echos aus einem düsteren Reich or Echoes from a Somber Empire —is a haunting documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog . The film explores the legacy of Jean-Bédel Bokassa , the self-proclaimed emperor of the Central African Republic known for his extreme megalomania and allegations of cannibalism . Core Narrative

: The film features archival footage of Bokassa’s lavish, Napoleon-inspired coronation and visits chilling sites, including the palace's oversized refrigerators where human remains were allegedly stored.

: True to Herzog’s style, the documentary is punctuated by bizarre, symbolic scenes, such as thousands of crabs swarming a beach and a chimpanzee smoking a cigarette in the ruins of the emperor's private zoo. Echoes From a Somber Empire - IFC Center

: Goldsmith returns to the Central African Republic to interview Bokassa’s wives, some of his children, and legal figures from his trial.