Every Man for Himself and God Against All

1974

1h 50m

Drama

List

92%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

90%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

When Kaspar Hauser (Bruno S.), a young German man, is suddenly released from an existence of inexplicable confinement, he is forced into regular society. Barely capable of communicating, Hauser is exploited in a circus sideshow until he is taken under the wing of the kindhearted Professor Daumer (Walter Ladengast), who slowly helps him acclimate to conventional life, even teaching him to read and write. Despite his best efforts, however, Hauser may not be able to escape the horrors of his past.

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Critics Consensus

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser marks a powerfully humane entry in writer-director Werner Herzog's acclaimed oeuvre, further bolstered by tremendous work by star Bruno S.

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Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

Thematically similar to the Herzog classics Fitzcarraldo, Aguirre, the Wrath of God, and Grizzly Man, it is yet another portrait of a seemingly demented hero who, in his so-called madness, illuminates the absurdity of society around him.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 19, 2024

Full Review

Pauline Kael

New Yorker

In Herzog's dedication to film art he denies us the simple pleasures of story involvement, of suspense, of interest in the people on the screen, of sexuality.

Oct 11, 2023

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

Kaspar Hauser is one of the most fascinating of films. At his best, Herzog is like no other film-maker I know.

Mar 20, 2018

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

...a meditation on innocence, corruption, and supposed civilization.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 21, 2023

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David Keyes

Cinemaphile.org

In a world where the universe is meant to crush our aspirations, seldom has there been a film made that has been so honest about such ideas, or as poetic.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 28, 2015

Full Review

Anton Bitel

New Empress Magazine

typically, Herzog is more preoccupied with anthropological issues, casting his pre-cultural everyman into a world of social pretence, academic pomposity and dehumanising exploitation, and seeing what comes out of the ensuing confrontations.

Jul 9, 2013

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Dave S

Over a career spanning more than fifty years, director Werner Herzog's The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser is undoubtedly one of his finest films. Based on actual events and set in early 18th century Germany, a young man who has been held captive in a cellar for this entire life is found standing motionless in the town square. Over a period of years, he is embraced by the locals and slowly begins to reveal his considerable intellect. Known for his interest in fascinating characters that linger on the edge of society and madness (Aguirre, Fitzcarraldo, Nosferatu, Stroszek, etc…), Hauser remains one of his most compelling subjects, thanks in part to a remarkable performance from Bruno S., whose own compelling personal story is as interesting as that of the character he plays. Thanks to Herzog's always creative direction, the fascinating story, and the impactful performances, The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser is a must-see movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/10/23

Full Review

Roy M

a hard title to live up to, and yet it does. based on a real case, with a dislocated pacing that suits the film's subject perfectly.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An enigmatic film as you might expect from the title. A good historical tale that I was previously unaware of. Must have been quite fascinating back there day. Pretty well depicted but with plenty of philosophical poetic licence. And with this ends my Empire 500 list challenge. It's been a pleasure.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I enjoy very much how he gravitates towards these inexplicable individuals or groups who seem to exist outside of their environment/time in some sense.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

"Enigma" of Kaspar Hauser may lead many to believe that this film is the study of the main subject, it might be so, but while being a study in Kaspar Hauser, the film is a study in us. While watching the film, I starting thinking of the similarities this film shares with The Elephant Man by David Lynch, and how similar yet different these two great filmd are. Through the story of Kaspar Hauser, a real figure from the 1850s, Werner Herzog articulates the nature of Humans and in quite an interesting way. The inhabitants have, before them, this man-child, who they believe is their breakthrough in understanding the earlier humans, and note every single one of his movements or statements in a very comical fashion. With this, Herzog is able to study humans through the man-child and the man alike, the nature of man, the itch, to figure out all they can is as important a study as it can be to figure out Kaspar Hauser. The Elephant Man, i believe, was from a quite frank straightforward thought process of a strange man, Kaspar Hauser's thoughts are puzzled and while constantly developing are not always shown as in the process, but in the small doses of outbursts. I can't point out Herzog's own thoughts to whether he understood the enigma in question, but the way he confines us to a limit of understanding our subjects in an interesting choice to play. This may lead to some quite detached moments from the film, but if given much thought after the film is over, may even lead to breakthrough. In the end, The Enigma Of Kaspar Hauser is an interesting one, with a breakthrough or maybe an illusion of one, a very small stupid illusion which may lead to satisfaction ultimately. Maybe we'll never be able to understand Kaspar Hauser, and his dream world the size of our planet.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

david f

An interesting film about a boy raised outside of society until he was a teenager and his experience after being left in a townsquare in Germany in the early 1800s. It took me watching the director commentary to really appreciate the themes and the links to the historical figure.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Werner Herzog

Director

Bruno S.

Kaspar Hauser

Brigitte Mira

Kathe

Walter Ladengast

Professor Daumer

Hans Musaus

Unknown Man

Willy Semmelrogge

Circus director

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83%

76%

Cobra Verde

86%

76%

Woyzeck

96%

92%

Stroszek

55%

51%

Invincible

91%

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Synopsis

When Kaspar Hauser (Bruno S.), a young German man, is suddenly released from an existence of inexplicable confinement, he is forced into regular society. Barely capable of communicating, Hauser is exploited in a circus sideshow until he is taken under the wing of the kindhearted Professor Daumer (Walter Ladengast), who slowly helps him acclimate to conventional life, even teaching him to read and write. Despite his best efforts, however, Hauser may not be able to escape the horrors of his past.

Director: Werner Herzog
Screenwriter: Werner Herzog
Production Co: Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen
Genre: Drama
Original Language: German
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 23, 2016
Runtime: 1h 50m

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