Werner Herzogs Fitzcarraldo tells the story of a man with almost superhuman ambitions. Ironically in filming the movie, Herzog himself displayed an obsession with achieving the same unthinkable goal  moving a boat across a mountain. This project will examine the parallels between the outrageous feats accomplished both on screen and off, while simultaneously putting the film in the historical context of the Amazon rubber boom at the end of the 19th century. By looking at the contrast between the final film, the production, and the historical context, one may hope to gain an insight into the mind of this most interesting director.

Wellhofer, Spencer. “Democracy and Fascism: Class, Civil Society, and Rational Choice in Italy.” The American Political Science Review. Vol. 97, No. 1, Feb. 2003, 91-106. JSTOR. American Politicial Science Association. University of Pennslvania Library, Philadelphia. 4 April 2008 <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3118223>

Spencer Wellhofers discussion on the emergence of fascism considers the requirements for fascism to succeed. He examines the ways in which fascism appeared in Italy within four years. Fascism set into Italy in different ways than it did in Germany. Fascists did not have to rely heavily on the support of those in rural areas in Germany, as it is primarily an industrial country. However, in Italy Mussolini had to have the unity of those living on the countryside.
It did not take long for fascists to take power in Italy and the transition appeared easy. Many Italians have conveyed these resentments through various art and media outlets, including film.

Federico Fellini, one of the most well-known Italian filmmakers tackled the issue of fascism by incorporating experiences of his own into his films. Fellini displays fascism as an issue in a small town in Italy, where the citizens are either completely ignorant to fascism’s capability, or they are not interested in it at all and feel that it is hardly a serious threat to their day-to-day living. In small towns, Italians were heavily influenced by the leaders of their communities, and oftentimes it was these leaders and who were pressured into retaining their professionalism by joining the fascist party. (see The Fascist Experience; Italian Society and Culture 1922-1945 by Edward R. Tannenbaum)

The Association of Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies (VFA) is the trade organization of research-based pharmaceutical companies in Germany. 40 leading research-based pharmaceutical companies are organized in the VFA..The German name is Verband Forschender Arzneimittelhersteller e.V..

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