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Land of Silence and Darkness

Original title: Land des Schweigens und der Dunkelheit
  • 1971
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
3K
YOUR RATING
Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
Documentary

Through examining Fini Straubinger, an old woman who has been deaf and blind since adolescence, and her work on behalf of other deaf and blind people, this film shows how the deaf and blind ... Read allThrough examining Fini Straubinger, an old woman who has been deaf and blind since adolescence, and her work on behalf of other deaf and blind people, this film shows how the deaf and blind struggle to understand and accept a world from which they are almost wholly isolated.Through examining Fini Straubinger, an old woman who has been deaf and blind since adolescence, and her work on behalf of other deaf and blind people, this film shows how the deaf and blind struggle to understand and accept a world from which they are almost wholly isolated.

  • Director
    • Werner Herzog
  • Writer
    • Werner Herzog
  • Stars
    • Fini Straubinger
    • M. Baaske
    • Elsa Fehrer
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Werner Herzog
    • Writer
      • Werner Herzog
    • Stars
      • Fini Straubinger
      • M. Baaske
      • Elsa Fehrer
    • 15User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Photos47

    Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
    Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
    Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
    Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
    Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
    Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
    Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
    Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
    Fini Straubinger in Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
    Heinrich Fleischmann in Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
    Heinrich Fleischmann and Fini Straubinger in Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
    Fini Straubinger and Resi Mittermeier in Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Fini Straubinger
    Fini Straubinger
    • Self
    M. Baaske
    Elsa Fehrer
    • Self
    Heinrich Fleischmann
    Heinrich Fleischmann
    • Self
    Rolf Illig
    Rolf Illig
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    Vladimir Kokol
    Vladimir Kokol
    • Self
    Resi Mittermeier
    • Self
    Gustav Heinemann
    Gustav Heinemann
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Werner Herzog
    • Writer
      • Werner Herzog
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Featured in I Am My Films (1978)

    User reviews15

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Utterfly affecting
    LAND OF SILENCE AND DARKNESS is an early documentary in the career of German film-maker Werner Herzog, a story laced with sadness and alienation that bears some stylistic similarity to Herzog's dramatic film THE ENIGMA OF KASPAR HAUSER. This one's all real though, a documentary that proves to be depressing and uplifting in equal measure.

    It's a documentary that explores the world of deafblind people living in Germany, controlled by a campaigning woman, Fini Straubinger, who makes it her business to travel the country and help those in need. What transpires is a travelogue fraught with unforgettable moments; moments that I don't mind admitting had me in tears on more than one occasion. The sequence with a 22 year old man who's never had any education or even contact with the outside world - he can't even walk - is the film's moving highlight.

    Herzog lets his story speak for himself, although he makes some strong choices as director. Visits to a cactus house and a zoo are utterly engrossing and the addition of some classic music to the soundtrack really helps to tug at the heartstrings. Not an easy film to watch then, but one which is nevertheless thoroughly compelling.
    helpful•7
    1
    • Leofwine_draca
    • Jan 31, 2015

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 22, 2002 (Hong Kong)
    • Country of origin
      • West Germany
    • Language
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Land des Schweigens und der Dunkelheit
    • Filming locations
      • Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
    • Production companies
      • Referat für Filmgeschichte
      • Werner Herzog Filmproduktion
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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