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Even
Dwarfs Started Small
(1970)
Auch
Zwerge Haben Klein Angefangen
This early film from the acclaimed German film-maker Werner Herzog is possibly one of the most bizarre experiences in modern cinema. Set in an un-named institution in a desolate landscape, the film tells of a rebellion by the inmates, while the institution's seemingly only staff member keeps the leader of the rebellion captive in his office and worries about how to sort out the mess before his boss comes back. The rebels spend their time messing around, teasing the farmyard animals, setting a truck driving around in endless circles in the courtyard, stealing the staff’s stash of porn magazines and tormenting two blind inmates. The whole thing soon descends into an almost surreal madness as the rebels crucify a monkey and set fire to flowers and chairs and smash plates and typewriters.
This film has deeply divided audiences and critics since it’s release, and it is a film that people tend to either absolutely love or completely hate. It is made to get a strong reaction and it succeeds. The entire cast is made up of little people, and the events are mostly shot from their point of view, and so the world, not the people, seems out of proportion. Herzog has stated that the dwarfs represent all of us, lost in a bizarre world where everything has become out of proportion and distorted.
The film is set in a strange, rocky and desolate landscape (in fact it was filmed in Lanzarotte in the Canary Islands). It seems as if some of the insanity from in front of the camera was felt behind the camera as well; one cast member, filming a scene from on top of a moving car, fell and was run over. Luckily, he was unharmed and continued filming the scene. Another cast member caught fire accidentally, but again escaped without harm. This caused some resentment among the cast and Herzog calmed them by promising to jump, stark naked, into a cactus field, which he did. Apparently some of the spines remain in his body, inoperable, to this day.
The movie has a startling score of African folk music, and beautiful, dream-like images. It is also very funny at times (especially the scene where a lesson in table manners descends into a food fight) as well as genuinely disturbing scenes. You may love it or you may hate it, but it is a unique film, and you’ll probably never see anything like it again.
-Robert
Foster
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2004-2009 Thoughtsonfilm.com |
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Director:
Werner
Herzog
Writer: Werner
Herzog
Starring: Helmut
Döring, Gerd Gickel, Paul Glauer, Erna Gschwendtner, Pepi
Hermine
Distributor: New
Yorker Films
Runtime: 96
min
Rating: Not
Rated
Release Date: December
15, 1971
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