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Trailer

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser

1974Movie1 h 49 min

DramaHistory
85
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.6Rotten Tomatoes91%90%

A profoundly sad, relentlessly bleak drama movie about a real life story and the mind, with standout direction and performances.

Good for thought-provoking · adults · solo watch

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

The film follows Kaspar Hauser, who lived the first seventeen years of his life chained in a tiny cellar with only a toy horse to occupy his time, devoid of all human contact except for a man who wears a black overcoat and top hat who feeds him.

Feels like

  • German Cinema
  • Biographical Drama
  • Historical
  • Social Commentary
  • Psychological
  • Bleak
  • Slow Burn
  • Arthouse
  • Character Study

Cast

17 of 17

Crew

Directed by
Werner Herzog
Written by
Werner Herzog
Produced by
Werner Herzog
Music by
Popol Vuh

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

November 1, 1974 · 1 h 49 min · Disturbing Imagery

Released
November 1, 1974
Runtime
1 h 49 min
Content
Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama, History
Original language
German
Made in
Germany
Available in
21 countries

Tropes

Based on a Great Big Lie, Blind Musician, Character Tic +9

  • Based on a Great Big Lie
  • Blind Musician
  • Character Tic
  • Cutting the Knot
  • Doorstop Baby
  • Downer Ending
  • The Full Name Adventures
  • Unwitting Test Subject
  • Insane Troll Logic
  • Grammar Correction Gag
  • Silence Is Golden
  • Gorgeous Period Dress

12 of 19 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser?"

Questions about The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser?

PhiloKanopyShout! Factory TVFandorPlexCohen MediaCineverseShout! Factory

In the United States, The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser streams on Philo, Fandor, Cohen Media, Shout! Factory, and Cineverse, and it is free with ads on Kanopy, Shout! Factory TV, Plex, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. It also streams in 11 other countries.

Is The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser worth watching?

85
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 85 (IMDb 7.6 and Rotten Tomatoes 91%).

Will I feel good after watching The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 9 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

Is The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser in English?

German

No, it was made in German.