Even Dwarfs Started Small
1970 · Movie · 96 min · ★ 6.4 · 95% critics
After being denied a simple outing, residents of a bleak institution seize control and turn daily life into a spiraling revolt. What follows is a strange, darkly comic stretch of disorder where rules collapse, authority falters, and the line between liberation and chaos quickly blurs.
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Details
- Original title
- Auch Zwerge haben klein angefangen
- Years
- 1970
- Release date
- 1970-09-16
- Language
- German
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 95/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.4/10 (123 votes)
- Budget
- $200,000
About
You may like this if you’re drawn to surreal, unsettling, plot-light art films that lean into chaos and dark humor, especially if Eraserhead or Stroszek worked for you; Not for you if you want clear story beats or can’t handle animal cruelty.
Pros: boldly absurd; unforgettable imagery; darkly funny moments | Cons: thin narrative drive; disturbing animal cruelty; off-putting tone
Themes
- rage and hate
- small person
- insurrection
- malice
- teacher
- destruction
- trenches
- animal cruelty
Cast & crew
- HD
Helmut Döring
as Hombré
- PG
Paul Glauer
as Erzieher
- GH
Gisela Hertwig
as Pobrecita
- HM
Hertel Minkner
as Chicklets
- GP
Gertrud Piccini
as Piccini
- MS
Marianne Saar
as Theresa
- BS
Brigitte Saar
as Cochina
- GG
Gerd Gickel
as Pepe
- EG
Erna Gschwendtner
as Azucar
- GM
Gerhard Maerz
as Territory
Directed by Werner Herzog