Four words: German Dwarfs Run Amok! Wow! (The "Wow!" is additive, not to be counted in the Four Words claim). This is even earlier proof that Herzog is, indeed, of a different breed (as if Aguirre: The Wrath of God or Fitzcarraldo weren't enough). Shot in stark black & white, this film casts only small people, and is just not quite right. It's not exploitative in the least, but a literal microcosm of a slowly building anarchy committed by a community of midgets. Dwarfs. Whatever you want to call them, they're all tiny.
Plot is somewhat suspect, despite Herzog claiming all dialogue was written beforehand. Basically a compound in the middle of a barren wasteland full of disgruntled dwarfs, growing more and more agitated because one of them (Pepe) is being held captive in the main office by the compound President. Basically a nightmare put to film (Herzog's own claim), it is oddly disturbing to see this shrunken community living in the remnants of giants.
Fucked up surreal, there's blind German midgets, burning plants, 30's Spanish porn, a hijacked car driving in circles while being pelted with plates and eggs, a miniature wedding party made of bugs, a one-legged chicken, a monkey tied to a crucifix. It's all in here, only to see to be believed. Surprisingly very well shot with great natural sound (ie no dubbed voices, Herzog was adamant about it), and some haunting music. The DMR doesn't normally condone the consumption of any of a variety of alternate substances in addition to your normal alcohol intake (and only where legal, please), but this would be a good one for exactly that. It really is simultaneously amusing and sad.
