Little Dieter Needs to Fly
1997 · 77 min · Director: Werner Herzog
Show plot summary (may contain spoilers)
In 1966, Dieter Dengler was shot down over Laos, captured, and, down to 85 pounds, escaped. Barefoot, surviving monsoons, leeches, and machete-wielding villagers, he was rescued. Now, near 60, living on Mt. Tamalpais, Dengler tells his story: a German lad surviving Allied bombings in World War II, postwar poverty, apprenticed to a smith, beaten regularly. At 18, he emigrates and peels potatoes in the U.S. Air Force. He leaves for California and college, then enlistment in the Navy to learn to fly. A quiet man of sorrows tells his story: war, capture, harrowing conditions, escape, and miraculous rescue. Where did he find the strength; how does he now live with his memories?
Emotional fingerprint
Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1997) — Movie. Top emotional signals: Tension 30%, Awe 25%, Empathy 20%. Source: AI estimate. Shares describe emotional signal, not percentages of people. Your experience may differ. How we measure
- Tension30%
- Awe25%
- Empathy20%
- Sadness15%
- Inspiration10%
AI estimate · no viewer votes yet
How we measure
AI estimate
Share of emotional signal, not the percentage of people or a probability of enjoyment.
Each viewer contributes one response, split equally across their selected emotions. When available, an automated estimate supplies a prior that is blended with those responses. Counts include distinct viewers, not automated estimates or archived anonymous votes. Fewer than 3 viewers is an early estimate; more responses do not guarantee certainty.
Why it feels this way
The strongest emotional signals are Tension, Awe, Empathy. Genres: Drama, Documentary, Biography. AI estimate.
Is it worth watching?
Consider this title if you are looking for Tension, Awe and Empathy. Its IMDb rating of 8.0/10 suggests a strong audience reception. For these leading emotions, its Feel Score is 73/100.
How did it make you feel?
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Pick up to three · 0/3
Emotional journey
- Empathy
- Tension
- Sadness
Not enough subtitle evidence
No dominant emotion
Dominant emotion: Sadness
Dominant emotion: Empathy
Dominant emotion: Tension
Dominant emotion: Disturbing
Dominant emotion: Relief
Dominant emotion
| % | Approximate minute | Dominant emotion | Overall intensity | Empathy | Tension | Sadness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 % | ≈ 2′ | Sadness | 55 % | 55 % | 15 % | 47 % |
| 7.5 % | ≈ 6′ | Empathy | 48 % | 43 % | 20 % | 29 % |
| 12.5 % | ≈ 10′ | Tension | 55 % | 45 % | 31 % | 30 % |
| 17.5 % | ≈ 13′ | Sadness | 64 % | 59 % | 26 % | 49 % |
| 22.5 % | ≈ 17′ | Empathy | 64 % | 54 % | 33 % | 40 % |
| 27.5 % | ≈ 21′ | Tension | 70 % | 46 % | 60 % | 25 % |
| 32.5 % | ≈ 25′ | Tension | 78 % | 56 % | 74 % | 35 % |
| 37.5 % | ≈ 29′ | Disturbing | 85 % | 71 % | 78 % | 50 % |
| 42.5 % | ≈ 33′ | Disturbing | 75 % | 63 % | 61 % | 44 % |
| 47.5 % | ≈ 37′ | Empathy | 49 % | 36 % | 34 % | 21 % |
| 52.5 % | ≈ 40′ | Tension | 46 % | 38 % | 35 % | 23 % |
| 57.5 % | ≈ 44′ | Empathy | 60 % | 55 % | 51 % | 40 % |
| 62.5 % | ≈ 48′ | Tension | 71 % | 59 % | 68 % | 39 % |
| 67.5 % | ≈ 52′ | Tension | 81 % | 61 % | 81 % | 40 % |
| 72.5 % | ≈ 56′ | Tension | 86 % | 73 % | 84 % | 63 % |
| 77.5 % | ≈ 60′ | Sadness | 84 % | 78 % | 70 % | 69 % |
| 82.5 % | ≈ 64′ | Relief | 76 % | 66 % | 50 % | 40 % |
| 87.5 % | ≈ 67′ | Relief | 79 % | 64 % | 41 % | 25 % |
| 92.5 % | ≈ 71′ | Relief | 87 % | 75 % | 35 % | 37 % |
| 97.5 % | ≈ 75′ | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence |
Man in a hole
Rags to riches: The emotional tone rises from negative to positive.
Riches to rags: The emotional tone falls from positive to negative.
Man in a hole: The tone falls, then recovers.
Icarus: The tone rises, then falls.
Cinderella: The tone rises, falls, then rises again.
Oedipus: The tone falls, rises, then falls again.
AI reading of the film’s English subtitles (dialogue and sound cues) — not viewer votes. How we measure ↗
Kadri — your film companion
AIAsk anything about Little Dieter Needs to Fly. From the film’s own dialogue and FeelDB data, at your spoiler level.
Afterward Reveal viewer responses · may contain spoilers
Viewer responses about feelings after the title ended, separate from feelings while watching. No AI estimates.
0 responses so far
Feeling details appear after at least 3 viewers respond, to protect privacy.
Cast
Details
- Directed by
- Werner Herzog
- Written by
- Werner Herzog
- Type
- Movies
- Released
- 1997
- Runtime
- 77 min
- Country
- Germany, United Kingdom, France
- Genres
- Drama, Documentary, Biography
- Ratings
- Feels mostly
- Tension
- Data updated
Where to watch
Subscription
Free
Rent
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