Little Dieter Needs To Fly

This unassuming but intriguing documentary tells the story of Dieter Dengler who was born in the Black Forest of Germany just before WW2,  emigrated to America after it, became a Naval fighter pilot and was shot down over Laos and captured during the Vietnam war. Typical enough of Herzog’s documentary Little Dieter Wants To Fly is a story of obsession and survival related in a detached even humorous manner by its subject.  Now in his 50s and a successful  businessman living in Northern California, Dengler recounts his adventures as a POW who escaped from the Viet Cong and survived .

Although Dengler is not a native English speaker he is articulate and vivid as he tells his story, which Herzog visualizes through a combination of archival footage and re-enactments. As with all his work Herzog himself is never far from proceedings, partly as interlocuter, partly as illustrator. It is a fascinating story and one feels that justice has been done to it.

 

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