Remove ads

Information

A.k.a.
Land of Silence and Darkness
Year
1971
Runtime
85 min.
Director
Werner Herzog
Genre
Documentary
Rating *
8.0
Votes *
1,216
Checks
753
Favs
90
Dislikes
3
Favs/checks
12.0% (1:8)
Favs/dislikes
30:1
* View IMDb information

Top comments

  1. dombrewer's avatar

    dombrewer

    An early but typically extraordinary documentary from film genius Werner Herzog following the deaf and blind Fini Straubinger as she travels around Germany meeting and communicating with similarly afflicted people. A more exceptional, tenacious and compassionate woman it would be hard to imagine; and similarly hard to conceive of the terrifying, crushing loneliness and inevitable depression of being cut off almost entirely from the world in this way (aside from an ingenious method of alphabetic sign language tapped out on the palm of the hand and the fingers). When the film shifts to those born both deaf and blind and almost entirely incapable of understanding or communicating with the world it is almost unbearably sad - but simultaneously fascinating. Touching a tree, or feeling the water of a shower are miracles we inevitably fail to appreciate in our everyday experience. For a jolt of the extremity of other lives and a reminder of what human contact and communication really means this is a tough watch but unreservedly recommended. 11 years 11 months ago
  2. VinceNet's avatar

    VinceNet

    Makes you reassess everything you know about communication. 9 years 4 months ago
  3. Torgo's avatar

    Torgo

    "If a World War would break out now, I wouldn't even notice it." 9 years 6 months ago
See all comments

Friends

Login to see which of your friends have seen this movie!

Activity

  1. Mark Van Bel checked this movie 5 days 20 hours ago
See more activity

In 5 official lists

  1. This movie ranks #77 in Sight & Sound's The Greatest Documentaries of All Time
    Sight & Sound's The Greatest Documentaries of All Time's icon

    Sight & Sound's The Grea…

    77
  2. This movie ranks #207 in TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films: 1001-2500
    TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films: 1001-2500's icon

    TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest F…

    207
  3. This movie ranks #302 in Amos Vogel's Film as a Subversive Art
    Amos Vogel's Film as a Subversive Art's icon

    Amos Vogel's Film as a S…

    302
  4. This movie ranks #522 in Time Out's 1000 Films to Change Your Life
    Time Out's 1000 Films to Change Your Life's icon

    Time Out's 1000 Films to…

    522
  5. This movie ranks #919 in Sight & Sound's The Greatest Films of All Time
    Sight & Sound's The Greatest Films of All Time's icon

    Sight & Sound's The Grea…

    919
View all lists this movie is in