The 2005 Werner Herzog documentary about Timothy Treadwell is Grizzly Man.
The film examines Treadwell’s life as a bear enthusiast and conservationist who spent 13 summers living among coastal brown bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. Herzog built the documentary around Treadwell’s own footage, along with interviews with his family, friends, pilots and wildlife experts.
Treadwell and his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, were killed by a bear on October 5, 2003, after remaining in the park into the autumn season. Grizzly Man explores both Treadwell’s devotion to the animals and the risks created by treating wild bears as if they were human companions. Herzog’s narration also challenges Treadwell’s belief that nature is fundamentally harmonious.
The documentary is often mistaken for a straightforward wildlife film. It is instead a biographical and philosophical portrait shaped by Herzog’s interpretation of Treadwell’s footage. The film premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and received broad critical acclaim.