Review of Even Dwarfs Started Small (1971) by David T — 22 Sep 2012
On first viewing I had no idea what this film was about. It surpassed 'Eraserhead' as the most aggressively strange narrative film I had ever seen. But It fascinated me so I went to see it again, and then I got the DVD. So I've seen it maybe 10 times now. And by the third or fourth viewing it all started to make sense. It really is about something. It is just human nature to revolt against oppressive conditions, but subordination takes its toll as the inevitable revolt is often unguided, chaotic, and unproductive. But that's the nature of human freedom.
One way to think about this movie is to compare it to another moving picture work about small people in a socially subordinate position who are totally unruly, torture animals, light things on fire, laugh oddly and repeatedly, and alternate between states of excitement and utter boredom. Yup "Auck Zwerge..." is the art film granddady, and "Beavis and Butthead" is it's pop culture grandson. Same themes really.
Hombre is one of the great characters in the history of cinema, IMHO. Helmut Doring is genius. Heh heh, heh heh heh. (Cough, cough) Heh heh heh heh heh...
This review of Even Dwarfs Started Small (1971) was written by David T on 22 Sep 2012.
Even Dwarfs Started Small has generally received positive reviews.
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