In the Realms of the Unreal

NEW DOCS

Henry Darger’s life work was an illustrated novel with 15,000 pages—but no one else knew about it until he died in 1972. Director Jessica Yu tells Darger’s story on several levels: his neighbors gently depict a lonely old man; the books and objects remaining in his Chicago apartment provide insights to his inner life; and Darger’s own artwork above all conveys his life-long obsessions. His autobiographical writings establish the childhood roots of his fantasy world, where heroic Vivian girl princesses, bearing male genetalia, battle the evil Glandelinian army. Lovely animation, especially of epic battle scenes, transports one into Darger’s vision.  NK

Director

Jessica Yu

Producer

Susan West

Release Year

2003

Festival Year

2004

Country

United States

Run Time

81 minutes