Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1997)
Average Rating: 7.8/10
Reviews Counted: 14
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 1
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 1
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Average Rating: 4.1/5
User Ratings: 3,635
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Movie Info
While growing up in desolated post-WW II Germany, all Dieter Dengler, the son of a Nazi slain during the war, dreamed about was becoming a pilot. At age 18, he left his country with only a few cents to his name and emigrated to the U.S. Landing in San Francisco, he worked odd jobs until he was accepted into the Navy and began pilot training. He was sent to Vietnam around 1966 and on his first mission was shot down and taken prisoner. There, the Vietcong tortured and starved him until Dengler
Feb 14, 1998 Wide
Aug 6, 2002
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All Critics (15) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (1) | DVD (12)
Werner Herzog's remarkable docu tells with sharp observation and witty humor the heroic tale of the imprisonment and escape of Dieter Dengler, a native German who became an American pilot in the Vietnam War; Dengler exudes plenty of charisma.
Top CriticLittle Dieter -- just slightly out of the realm of the ordinary -- but not enough to stand among the remarkable, mystical works that Herzog has delivered in the past.
Herzog starts with a balding middle-aged man driving down a country lane in a convertible, and listens, questions and shapes, until the life experience of Dieter Dengler becomes unforgettable.
As often happens in Mr. Herzog's haunting documentaries, the most interesting figure seems to be the one behind the camera.
A stunning tale of survival.
A summation of the director's work in so many ways that one is tempted to point the neophyte to it ahead of better-known Herzogs.
A compassionate and personal story of the brutality and oddity of war
No, Little Dieter Needs to Fly isn't solely for the Herzog completists.
Dengler is a marvelous storyteller and opens his heart and soul for Herzog without hesitation.
Death did not want Dieter Dengler, whose life often sounds like that of a fairy tale character thrust into an existential wonderland.
Herzog has likened Dengler's experience to a Greek tragedy, involving dreams, punishment and redemption.
There are a lot of current motion pictures that have had difficulty creating even one compelling character. Little Dieter Needs to Fly has just one subject, but his life could make several interesting movies.
Audience Reviews for Little Dieter Needs to Fly
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| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| A wonderfully touching and human story | 2 months ago | 0 |
Latest News on Little Dieter Needs to Fly
September 9, 2006:
TORONTO: Herzog's "Rescue Dawn" Kicks Off Market On the Road to OscarMGM made the first major pick-up Saturday at this year's Toronto International Film Festival,...
July 21, 2005:
Bale and Zahn Come to Herzog's "Rescue"Christian Bale and Steve Zahn will star in Werner Herzog's adventure tale "Rescue Dawn,"...
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Foreign Titles
- Petit Dieter doit voler (FR)
