Little Dieter Needs to Fly
In 1966, Dieter Dengler was shot down over Laos, captured, and, down to 85 pounds, escaped.
In 1966, Dieter Dengler was shot down over Laos, captured, and, down ...
Documentary
-
1997
Available on
Country
Three decades after German-American pilot Dieter Dengler was shot down over Laos, he returns to the places where he was held prisoner during the early years of the Vietnam War. Accompanied by director Werner Herzog, Dengler describes in unusually candid detail his captivity, the friendships he made, and his daring escape. Not willing to stop there, Herzog even persuades his subject to re-enact certain tortures, with the help of some willing local villagers.
Director:
Cast:
Similar
Details
Rated:
Not Rated
Runtime:
77 min
Release date:
1 Dec 1997
Country:
DE
Languages:
English
Budget:
$0
Revenue:
$0
Awards:
Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. 5 wins & 3 nominations total
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
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.
– Emanuel Levy,
Variety,
15 Feb 2007
rotten:
Little 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.
– Edward Guthmann,
San Francisco Chronicle,
20 Apr 2001
fresh:
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.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
20 Apr 2001
fresh:
As often happens in Mr. Herzog's haunting documentaries, the most interesting figure seems to be the one behind the camera.
– Janet Maslin,
New York Times,
20 Apr 2001