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In the Realms of the Unreal: The Mystery of Henry Darger

Henry Darger (Actor, Writer), Dakota Fanning (Actor), Jessica Yu (Director, Writer) Rated:
Unrated
Format: DVD
4.0 out of 5 stars 90 ratings
IMDb7.3/10.0
Additional DVD options Edition Discs
Price
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DVD —
1
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$24.99 $14.04
DVD
May 29, 2012 		—
1
—
— $19.30
Format Color, Widescreen, NTSC, Dolby
Contributor Paul Robert Langdon, Mary O'Donnell, Henry Darger, Kiyoko Lerner, David Berglund, Frier McCollister, Larry Pine, Jessica Yu, Janice Hong, Dakota Fanning, Wally Wingert, Ruby McCollister, Mary Rooney See more
Language English
Runtime 1 hour and 21 minutes
Color Color

Product Description

Henry Darger, an elderly recluse, spent his childhood in Illinois's asylum for feeble-minded children and his adulthood working as a janitor. He lived a quiet, nearly solitary existence, but his imaginary life was exciting, colorful and sexually provocative. When he died in Chicago in 1973, his landlady discovered in his room 300 paintings, some over 10 feet long, and a 15,000-page illustrated novel (The Realms of the Unreal), which told the epic story of the virtuous Vivian Girls leading a child slave revolt against the evil Glandelinians. Featuring Dakota Fanning (Hide and Seek) and Larry Pine (The Royal Tenenbaums) as narrators and imaginative animation of Darger's work, Oscar® winner Jessica Yu (Breathing Lessons) brings to life one of the twentieth century's greatest self-taught artists.

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.85:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ Unrated (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.75 x 5.75 x 0.53 inches; 4 ounces
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Jessica Yu
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Color, Widescreen, NTSC, Dolby
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 21 minutes
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Henry Darger, Dakota Fanning, Larry Pine, Frier McCollister, Wally Wingert
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Fox Lorber
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00094ARX2
  • Writers ‏ : ‎ Henry Darger, Jessica Yu
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 90 ratings

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
90 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this documentary fascinating and well-made, praising its portrayal of Henry Darger's artwork. The film receives positive feedback for its imaginative storytelling, with one customer noting it provides a rare glimpse of fine filmmaking.

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17 customers mention "Story quality"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the movie's story fascinating, with one customer describing it as a powerful narrative about an unusual person.

"Within Yu's invigorating movie we take an extremely intense and magical trip into the litte-known art of Henry Darger...." Read more

"...Such an interesting, believe-it-or-not story!" Read more

"I have watched this video 10 times and it is still fascinating. Henry Darger's work is very complex and deserves the artistic recognition...." Read more

"This film tells the story of Henry Darger, a self taught storyteller, whose vivid imagination creates a world of villainous adults and heroic..." Read more

12 customers mention "Visual quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual quality of the documentary, with several noting its good portrayal of Darger's art, and one describing it as a beautiful crafted film that provides a rare glimpse of fine filmmaking.

"This is an intriguing look at a person on the edge of normal who worked in secret with his art and writing his entire adult life...." Read more

"...That's actually pretty cool, except they didn't seem to pay attention to what the theme of the art was at the time, or the content of what they..." Read more

"...and work of Henry Darger - a simple, unassuming man with a massive body of artwork and an epic novel he kept hidden away from all those who knew him...." Read more

"...Henry Darger's work is very complex and deserves the artistic recognition. He should actually be a part of MoMA and not the Folk Art Museum...." Read more

9 customers mention "Value for money"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the documentary to be worth the money, with one customer noting that art history students particularly enjoyed it.

"...Yu has created a truly great movie and it is, most definitely, a must buy." Read more

"...My Art History students loved this film and our discussion afterwards." Read more

"...and attention that this would cause. This is a sad, but wonderful, look into a world that lies beneath our feet and most often overlooked." Read more

"An amazing film! An amazing documentary! Don't pass this one up!..." Read more

5 customers mention "Art direction"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the art direction of the film, which tells the story of Henry Darger.

"...of the Unreal." This documentary is about the life and work of Henry Darger - a simple, unassuming man with a massive body of artwork and an..." Read more

"This film tells the story of Henry Darger, a self taught storyteller, whose vivid imagination creates a world of villainous adults and heroic..." Read more

"His work is amazing. What a prolific artist. If only I could be so productive with my work. Henry Darger lived in his world though...." Read more

"I was very moved by the story of Henry Darger...." Read more

3 customers mention "Imagination"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the movie's imaginative content, with one describing it as an intriguing legacy of wild imagination.

"...man who used everyday things around him to fashion an intriguing legacy of wild imagination!..." Read more

"Fascinating story about a relatively unknown man with an extraordinary gift of imagination. The documentary was well executed...." Read more

"...It was such and incredible story that I had to purchase for myself. So imaginative!" Read more

3 customers mention "Quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the movie reasonably well done.

"I found this DVD thoughtful and well done. I have many exhibitions of Darger's art , and this captures much of what his work is about." Read more

"...The doc. was reasonably well done with such a limited amount of info of what the man was really all about...." Read more

"well made and beautiful crafted documentary film on henry darger, really puts you into his work from inside 4 stars!!!" Read more

sold as new. dvd had been removed from bottom of case, then put back into case.
1 out of 5 stars
sold as new. dvd had been removed from bottom of case, then put back into case.
Disappointed somebody had to view my new dvd. They should have bought their own.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Mona Pierpaoli
    5.0 out of 5 stars Yu's Amazing Trip Into Henry Darger
    Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2005
    Verified Purchase
    Within Yu's invigorating movie we take an extremely intense and magical trip into the litte-known art of Henry Darger. In The Realms of The Unreal introduces us to the brooding and often horrific mind of Henry Darger which is brought to life by amazing voice actors such as Dakota Fanning and Larry Pine.

    Yu's treatment of Henry's art is just as sensitive (and engrossing) as her treatment of his art. The surreal dream-like landscapes that Henry Darger created in his huge novel are animated perfectly by Yu. Birds streak across technicolor skies while the children of Albeannia fight the evil Glandelinians in startling motion.

    Never before has Darger's life and art been so sensitively told, and I highly suggest this movie to anyone interested in art of any kind. Darger's work is now imitated by thousands of artists across the world and his subversive and disturbing imagery is entirely unqiue and very exciting to see. Not only does Yu truly do justice to this art (she shows at least half of Darger's work) but she uses it to tell the heartbreaking story of a man who only wanted a person to love.

    Yu has created a truly great movie and it is, most definitely, a must buy.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • paul rowny
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating person on the edge of normal
    Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is an intriguing look at a person on the edge of normal who worked in secret with his art and writing his entire adult life. After he was moved to a hospital when he was near the end of his life, his friends and neighbors discovered his apartment full of writings and visionary art, including a 15,000 page novel. Since that time, his works have been displayed in visionary art museums around the country, and many of his writings have been published. Seeing the story of his life as a modest hospital orderly living alone is fascinating when one thinks of what he accomplished, especially in view of the fact that he sought no recognition whatsoever for it.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Cynthia Dixon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Discovering New Artists & Unsung Creativity!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2006
    Verified Purchase
    Every time I learn about a new artist, a writer or an otherwise creative genius, I wonder where the heck I've been! This same sense of wonderment, alternating with a tad bit of embarrassment, always makes me want to find out more about a creative force who had been in our midst all along!

    Scholars can argue the deep religious overtones while others try to dissect and ferret out hidden meanings. It would take years of studying the pictures & the text, and even then, we ultimately would never know what REALLY was in Henry Darger's mind all the years he was spinning the tales of the Glandelinians and the Vivian Girls.

    Sit back, watch & try to grasp the sheer volumes of work that Henry poured out over the course of his life! Was he crazy-mad? Who wouldn't be with the type of real-world existence he lived. Perhaps, escaping into his fantasy world kept him from going over the edge. Who will ever know? I, myself, was MESMERIZED by this unknown but gifted man who used everyday things around him to fashion an intriguing legacy of wild imagination!

    After first seeing this on PBS, I rushed to the computer to research and find out MORE about this reclusive man. I HAD to buy the DVD & intend to share it with those around me who hold the same type of fascination with learning about new talents.

    Too bad that Henry Darger didn't live long enough to be interviewed for this documentary. I wonder what he would think about being declared a new American Folk Artist? We can only guess. Simply enjoy the voluminous works that he so graciously left behind for generations to enjoy.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewer
    1.0 out of 5 stars I find it really sad when people are this greedy in life
    Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    So many have profited from someone who had absolutely no awareness of any of this. He never had the opportunity to witness any of his "art" going public it was taken by his landlords of all people to do with what they wish without any real consent from Henry Darger, or awareness. He never got anything out of this industry that crept up in his name. Thoroughly, thoughtlessly and shamelessly exploited by people who really have limited feeling and no clue. A real disgrace to humanity that people would do this to someone who has suffered so much hardship and pain in life.
    I give Henry Darger infinite stars being able to free himself as much as he could and the courage to do what he could with his difficult circumstances. As for the landlords and everyone else who shamelessly profited off his sufferings, I would give ZERO stars if I could.
    It both outrages and disgusts me to know people are so interested in only their own profit at the expense of anything else that they would put someone's personal belongings and put them on such public display without the knowledge of the person who created them.

    VULTURES!

    And you can bet the ones who are profiting off all this haven't got the guts or desire to put all their personal junk on the table for all to see, every little detail for the entire world to consider, mull over and judge. Would you like every aspect of your life exposed without your knowledge or consent and not get anything out of the deal? Think about that.

    Hypocrites!

    Shame on each and every one of you for mercilessly exploiting a soul who hurt so much in life!

    You put him back in Lincoln Home for Feeble Minded all over again!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Gen Falel
    3.0 out of 5 stars What the heck; it's the only game in town.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The producers seem to have gotten bored, and they started animating the still drawings of Darger. That's actually pretty cool, except they didn't seem to pay attention to what the theme of the art was at the time, or the content of what they were in the midst of narrating, and it ends up coming off as comical.
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  • Dana McGill
    4.0 out of 5 stars Anyone with an interest in outsider art should definitely check ...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Anyone with an interest in outsider art should definitely check out "In The Realms of the Unreal." This documentary is about the life and work of Henry Darger - a simple, unassuming man with a massive body of artwork and an epic novel he kept hidden away from all those who knew him. Such an interesting, believe-it-or-not story!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reclusive realms
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 5, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent documentary about a reclusive man who spends his life in a flat writing and painting. Making up stories in his own little world about a bunch of little girls who battle against adults who want to destroy the earth and all the children in it.
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  • ella evans
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 5, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    can not use it as it in zone 1 work only, but should read more carefully
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  • Death to spurs
    2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 3, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Mr Darger was a very interesting character, but this documentary is poor. Dialogue is mumbled and ideas are only half explored.
    Disappointing
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