Werner Herzog is one of Germany’s most famous film-makers.

Over the last four decades he has written, produced, directed and acted in numerous features and documentaries and now ‘The Werner Herzog Collection’ gathers 18 of his best known works into one commemorative package, released on DVD and Blu-Ray.

The collection includes ‘Aguirre’, ‘The Wrath of God’, and ‘Even Dwarfs Started Small’.

Werner Herzog says his work is characterised by a willingness to take risks: “I have gone into subjects that are unusual to say the least – having shot a film with a cast of little people, having shot a film with all of the actors under hypnosis, having shot in Antarctica. Having shot – you just name it – wild stuff. Filming mirages, working with a borderline mad actor Klaus Kinski – five films.”

His career has been almost equally divided between making documentaries and feature films. Because his features are often very avant-garde and experimental, he is often asked how he persuades actors to take such creative risks.

Herzog says it helps that actors trust him: “Much of the time I was the youngest on the set in my earliest films. I started my feature films when I was 23, 24, something like that. I was always the youngest kid on the shoot. I really look after actors very well and they know they become good in my films. Normally they are at their best when they work with me. And they know it.”

Nicole Kidman stars in his upcoming movie ‘Queen of the Desert’, a biopic about Gertrude Bell, a British explorer, traveler, archaeologist, cartographer and political attache.

The director commented: “Most of my films are about men. At my age, I discovered that I am much better with women. And Nicole Kidman is phenomenal. And I’m thinking I should have made films about women all my life.”

The Werner Herzog Collection will be released on 25th August.