Little Dieter Needs to Fly

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georgan g Intense documentary with detailed experience of POW in Vietnam. Lived through the era and have seen many films about that war. But this one helps understand what certain soldiers actually experienced. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review J. D Deiter Dengler, a small child when Americans bombed his German village during WWII, recalls a fighter plane's wing pass within inches of the window out of which he was peering, and knew then that he had to be a pilot. He survived poverty and hardship in postwar Germany and emigrated to the US when he was 18 and enlisted, eventually becoming a pilot. Sent to Vietnam, he was 2 1/2 hours into his first bombing mission when was shot down over Laos and captured. He tells the harrowing story of being a POW for 6 months until he escaped. Deiter narrates this documentary which includes archival photos as well as visiting, accompanied by Herzog, actual locations in SE Asia, at times re-enacting his being captured, with young Laotians binding his wrists behind his back and leading him through the jungle. At one point, Deiter says, "This feels too much like home". Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/06/21 Full Review Audience Member Great documentary on a true American hero; he said he wasn't but Bull. He may have been born in Nazi Germany but Dieter Dangler always wanted to fly and he came to the USA to achieve his dream of being a pilot. Shot down in Laos and escaped from a prison with others but by sheer will and luck he made it out alive and was rescued weighing 85 pounds. Back on the aircraft carrier he had to sleep in the cockpit as it was only place he felt secure. He died 20 years ago but he did get back to Vietnam to help fight his demons. I cried at his funeral scene at Arlington. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review andres s Wow, it's very obvious to see how his capture by the Vietnamese really scarred him. It's always interesting to see what Herzog makes a documentary about, what topics and subject matters peak his interest. And seeing the way he makes a documentary is very different unique than the way other directors do it. The old black & white archival footage that Herzog was able to use in this movie was impressive. Very clear and very detailed. Holy shit what an interesting man with even more interesting stories. The way Dieter can recall all his experiences in such rich detail is almost unbelievable. Some of the torture methods they performed on him were so fucked up. Almost like the type of shit Nazi's did. Evil people getting creative because they're bored. Jesus, the living conditions while he was a prisoner in the Laos camp were horrendous. Him and the other prisoners would just shit and piss all over themselves and they would be fed intestines and meat that was all rotten and filled with maggots. It always smelled like hell. Listening to all the hellish things he experienced while in Laos especially seeing his friend get beheaded and some of his other buddies killed, I can't really comprehend how he's such a normal functioning human being. Like how did that not affect him on such a psychological level? Another very well made and interesting documentary by Herzog. I was very captivated by Dieter Dengler and his stories and experiences. I guess little Dieter was definitely meant to fly. And his heaven was definitely that huge lot full of aircrafts. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review david f "Men are often haunted by things that happen to them in life, especially in war. Their lives come to be normal, but they are not." This documentary tells an incredible story of survival during the Vietnam War. The subject of the film was shot down and taken prisoner before making an incredible escape. Most of the movie consists of Dieter narrating his life story and it's pretty unbelievable. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A spectacular story of survival against all odds. Werner Herzog again manages to bring a shocking tale to life in exquisite detail. By visiting Dieter's small German town where he was born and where he grew up it beautifully provides the context for the path he chose to take. The smallest details ie him hoarding food, carry so much weight and significance due to his past. It's quite stunning when they travel back to :Laos and visit the jungle where he was held. It's a great story of survival that any fan of biographies or fans of the history of war would appreciate. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Little Dieter Needs to Fly

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