In the Realms of the Unreal

Brilliant.
- DALLAS OBSERVER
Singular and haunting.
- ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Absorbing and exquisite... spellbinding.
- SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
Fascinating.
- HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Compelling...somewhat disturbing.
- NEW YORK POST
One of a kind.
- L.A. DAILY NEWS
Superb.
- L.A. WEEKLY
This is Academy Award level documentary film making.
- EBERT & ROEPER

Synopsis

Henry Darger was an elderly recluse who spent his childhood in an Illinois asylum for feeble-minded children and his adulthood working as a janitor. To the outside world he lived a quiet, nearly solitary existence, but in his mind he'd created a haunting, fantasy dreamscape. When Henry Darger died alone at the age of 81, his landlords discovered hundreds of brilliant and disturbing paintings, some over 10 feet long, and a 15,000 page illustrated novel (The Realms of the Unreal), which told the epic story of the virtuous Vivian Girls, seven angelic sisters who lead a rebellion against, goddless, child-enslaving men. Featuring the voices of Dakota Fanning (I AM SAM, CAT IN THE HAT) and Larry Pine (THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS, THE ICE STORM), the music of Emmy-winning composer Jeff Beal and the work of a team of animators, this wholly original film tells the story of a hidden universe.

Theatrical Release Date

Original Languages: English
Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 81 min.
Year: 2004

Credits

DIRECTED BY
Jessica Yu