Bells from the Deep: Faith and Superstition in Russia

Bells from the Deep (1993) is German director Werner Herzog’s documentary investigation of Russian mysticism. The first half of the film is concerned primarily with Vissarion, a Russian faith healer claiming to be the reincarnation of God as was Jesus. Herzog also has several segments on the religion of Siberian nomads. The second half of the film is primarily concerned with the legend of the lost city of Kitezh. This myth is about a city that was in peril of being destroyed by marauding Mongols, but whose citizens prayed for rescue. Hearing their prayers, God placed the city at the bottom of a deep lake, where it resides to this day. Some even say that one can hear the bells from the city’s church. The story is recounted by a local priest and pilgrims visiting the lake.