2006's
Rescue Dawn was the story of US Navy pilot Dieter Dengler, as he was shot down over Vietnam, and his successful escape from the POW camp, the only person ever to achieve such a feat.
Little Dieter Needs to Fly is a documentary of that same story, told from the man himself, Dieter Dengler. And if there was ever a more engaging, interesting, and just plain curious documentary, or individual, for that matter, I think I've yet to see it.
Told entirely by Mr. Dengler, he revisits the locations involved in his story, and with amazing clarity and presence of mind, recounts the story in great detail. To be quite honest, I was simply amazed at his ability to put himself back into those situations, back into shackles, and walking through the jungle. All this while (at least for the camera) maintaining a bizarre and seemingly out-of-place sense of humor about the whole thing.
In fact, in my review of Rescue Dawn, I noted that the movie seemed to be a little too light-hearted for the situation. But after seeing "Little Dieter" I think I fully understand why it was this way.
In any case,
Little Dieter Needs to Fly will glue you to your screen, make you laugh, move you to tears, and introduce you to one of the real heroes of the Vietnam war. Of course he would deny that, but I'll let you be the judge....
Here's a little clip, I hope you can see what I mean from this one....
Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1997) on Spout.com
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