{"id":3146,"date":"2007-05-07T12:50:13","date_gmt":"2007-05-07T19:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3146"},"modified":"2021-02-01T19:49:11","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T02:49:11","slug":"even-dwarfs-started-small-1969","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3146","title":{"rendered":"Even Dwarfs Started Small (1969)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Whether we&#8217;re good or bad, the treatment is all the same.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Started-Small-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Started-Small-Poster-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-30813\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Started-Small-Poster-228x300.jpg 228w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Started-Small-Poster-97x128.jpg 97w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Started-Small-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn a world inhabited solely by dwarfs, inmates at a mysterious asylum run by The President (Pepi Hermine) stage an anarchistic rebellion.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dwarfs and Little People<\/li>\n<li>German Films<\/li>\n<li>Living Nightmare<\/li>\n<li>Rebellion<\/li>\n<li>Werner Herzog Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nMore a surreal nightmare than a cohesive narrative, Werner Herzog&#8217;s <em>Even Dwarfs Started Small<\/em> tells the cryptic &#8220;story&#8221; of a group of German dwarfs who devolve into gleeful chaos once they escape from the clutches of their caretaker (Hermine). It&#8217;s never made clear exactly what kind of institution they&#8217;re rebelling against &#8212; some viewers call it a prison, others an insane asylum, still others a school &#8212; but Herzog&#8217;s point seems to be that it doesn&#8217;t quite matter. On a metaphorical level, the dwarfs represent <em>all <\/em>humans who are living in a meaningless world which is literally beyond their grasp, and who, once given the chance to do things their own way, are ultimately incapable of anything other than destructive and harmful actions.<\/p>\n<p>Although the imagery in <em>Dwarfs <\/em>is consistently bizarre and surreal, Herzog tends to indulge certain scenes &#8212; such as the car going round and round on a dirt circle &#8212; until they run far longer than necessary; eventually, they become repetitive rather than novel. In addition, the footage of animals being harmed (yet another metaphorical layer) are &#8212; while ostensibly &#8220;authentic&#8221; rather than contrived for the film &#8212; too disturbing for comfort. Finally, though I admire Herzog&#8217;s boldly unique vision, I would prefer for his script to be at least a <em>bit <\/em>more comprehensible; there&#8217;s potential here for even sharper satire.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> It&#8217;s been suggested that a more appropriate translation of Herzog&#8217;s original title would be <em>Even Dwarfs Had to Start Somewhere<\/em>, which makes more sense within the film&#8217;s context of rebellion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Surreal use of an all-dwarf cast<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still-1024x775.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"484\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still-1024x775.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still-768x581.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still-357x270.png 357w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still.png 1297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still2-1024x789.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"493\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67879\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still2-1024x789.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still2-300x231.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still2-128x99.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still2-768x592.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still2-350x270.png 350w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still2.png 1295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many genuinely disturbing images<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still3-1024x778.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"486\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67881\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still3-1024x778.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still3-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still3-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still3-768x583.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still3-355x270.png 355w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Still3.png 1289w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Truck.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Truck-1024x786.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"491\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67880\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Truck-1024x786.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Truck-300x230.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Truck-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Truck-768x589.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Truck-352x270.png 352w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Truck.png 1297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Helmut Doring as Hombre, whose cackling laugh permeates the film<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Doring.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Doring-1024x760.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"475\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67877\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Doring-1024x760.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Doring-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Doring-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Doring-768x570.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Doring-364x270.png 364w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Even-Dwarfs-Doring.png 1301w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The haunting tribal soundtrack<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a look as a one-of-a-kind cult favorite. Listed as a movie with Historical Importance and a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0065436\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1970\/09\/17\/archives\/dwarfs-started-small.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Whether we&#8217;re good or bad, the treatment is all the same.&#8221; Synopsis: In a world inhabited solely by dwarfs, inmates at a mysterious asylum run by The President (Pepi Hermine) stage an anarchistic rebellion. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Dwarfs and Little People German Films Living Nightmare Rebellion Werner Herzog Films Review: More a surreal nightmare than a cohesive narrative, Werner Herzog&#8217;s Even Dwarfs Started Small tells the cryptic &#8220;story&#8221; of a group of German dwarfs who devolve into gleeful&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3146\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3146"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3146\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67882,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3146\/revisions\/67882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}