Auch Zwerge haben klein angefangen (1970)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Werner Herzog

Writer:

Werner Herzog (writer)

Release Date:

2 February 1971 (West Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Horror

Plot:

The inhabitants of an institution in a remote country rebel against their keepers. Their acts of rebellion are by turns humorous...

Plot Keywords:

Rebellion | Chaos | Disturbing | Dwarf | Absurdism

Cast

Helmut Döring	...	Hombré
Paul Glauer	...	Erzieher
Gisela Hertwig	...	Pobrecita
Hertel Minkner	...	Chicklets
Gertrud Piccini	...	Piccini
Marianne Saar	...	Theresa
Brigitte Saar	...	Cochina
Gerd Gickel	...	Pepe
Erna Gschwendtner	...	Azucar
Gerhard Maerz	...	Territory
Alfredo Piccini	...	Anselmo
Erna Smollarz	...	Schweppes
Lajos Zsarnoczay	...	Chapparo
Pepi Hermine	...	The President

Also Known As:

Even Dwarfs Started Small (International: English title)
Anche i nani hanno cominciato da piccoli (Italy) [it]
Dvärgar har också varit små (Sweden) [sv]
I patuljci pocinju mali (Croatia) [hr]
Kodomo no kyouen (Japan) [ja]
Les nains aussi ont commencé petits (France) [fr]
Maasta se kääpiökin ponnistaa (Finland) [fi]
Nawet karly byly kiedys male (Poland) [pl]
Também os Anões Começaram por Baixo (Portugal) (review title) [pt]

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG | Australia:M (2008) | West Germany:16 (bw)

Filming Locations:

Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain

Company:

Werner Herzog Filmproduktion

Trivia:

Extracts of the screenplay that are featured on the German DVD say: "The title for the film is a pure 'working title'. It has nothing to do with the film. The word 'dwarfs' should not appear in there."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Even Kids Started Small (2006)

Herzog's "small" triumph

I'm almost ashamed to say it but...this film truly TERRIFIED me! Usually speaking, this is like one of the best compliments a movie can ever receive, but I'm afraid that in the case of "Even Dwarfs Started Small" this feeling is very misplaced. Werner Herzog's minor masterpiece is intended as an allegoric social portrait, hence I'm not very proud to admit that it haunted me all night long. As wrong and unsympathetic as it may come across, these little people look naturally eerie and their appearances made an impression on me that was even stronger than the mesmerizing story. "Even Dwarfs Started Small" is a revolutionary film, pretty much covering all the daily wars every human being wages, only the protagonists are all dwarfs. Since these people's position in society already are oppressed as it is, this film looks extra powerful and compelling. All the actors and actresses deliver amazing performances, even though none of them had any experience in cinema. Especially the 'main' character Hombre is a truly intriguing man. Other aspects that increase the depressing intensity of this film are the black and white cinematography, the extended sequences showing farm animals and – most of all – the raw, tribal music. This definitely was one of the toughest reviews I ever wrote, simply because this is such a multilateral classic and I regretfully can't get past my personal fear of small shapes...