Her short film breathing lessons was the winner of the 1997 oscar and was followed by the wonderfully creative in the realms of the unreal about the mysterious artist henry darger. He has become famous for his posthumously discovered 15,145page, singlespaced fantasy manuscript called the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinian war. This article is dedicated, with admiration, respect and love, to chris alaswad in the realms of the unreal, a film by jessica yu. The latest documentary by oscar winner jessica yu was inspired by a serendipitous glimpse into the. Jessica yu is an academy awardwinning and emmy awardwinning filmmaker and writer working in a variety of media and genres in 2019, she has been nominated for emmy for best directing for a limited series for fosseverdon, the fx series starring sam rockwell and michelle williams. Sep 18, 20 henry darger, in the realms of the possibly real. As a filmmaker, yu is known for both her scripted and nonfiction work, which includes the academy awardwinning short breathing lessons.
Dec 02, 2007 when academy award winning filmmaker jessica yu was approached about doing a film about euripides, she was utterly at a loss. Directed by jessica yu, it tells the story of a friendless chicago janitor called henry darger, who spent most of his life building acollection of string balls and medicine bottles, to. The illustrations of the vivian sisters provided insight into his eyes. Jessica yu s movie about this man is at once both entertaining and a little aggravating since so much is still not known. Yu deftly weaves together parallel threads of dargers life. In the chicago spring of 1973, henry darger died as he lived alone, impoverished, bereft of any family and known only slightly to a few neighbours in his apartment building. In the film in the realms of the unreal, the personal storybook drawings of reclusive artist henry darger. In the realms of the unreal is a 2004 documentary film directed by jessica yu about american outsider artist henry darger 18921973.
With dreamlike animation, poignant narration by dakota fanning and a haunting musical score, academy award winner jessica yu fashions a bold and beautiful film. In the realms of the unreal the mystery of henry darger. The drawings and writings of henry darger 18921973 disturbing visions created in his oneroom apartment in chicago have brought him worldwide posthumous fame. The story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the. Darger, who was considered to be a mentally ill man throughout his 80 odd years, was at once dickensian. He has become famous for his posthumously discovered 15,145page, singlespaced fantasy manuscript called the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinian. Reclusive janitor by day, visionary artist by night, outsider artist henry darger. Henry darger, in the realms of the possibly real book. From the meet the artists series of the 2004 sundance film festival. In the realms of the unreal, an innovative feature length documentary, directed by academy award winning filmmaker jessica yu and produced by susan west, explores the parallel lives of legendary outsider artist henry darger. In the realms of the unreal by jessica yu jessica yu. Born in 1892, darger lived in chicago and worked as a janitor for most of his life. A fifthgeneration chinese american, she was blessed with parents who were fine with their kids going into the arts.
First released in 2005, yu spent five years bringing this reclusive artist to life on film. Henry darger, the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinian war storm, caused by the. In the early 1970s, semireclusive janitor henry darger moved out of his chicago boarding house. The mystery of henry darger a documentary by jessica yu ovationsouthbound dvd graham reid jun 1. In the realms of the unreal is a documentary about the reclusive chicagobased artist henry darger. See more ideas about henry darger, outsider art and folk art. But after his death, a treasure trove was discovered in his oneroom. In the realms of the unreal introduces us to the brooding and often horrific mind of henry darger which is brought to life by amazing voice actors such as dakota fanning and larry pine. The life and work of mark obrien comes in the realms of the unreal, the astounding tale of henry darger. Living alone and in poverty, he had no friends or close family.
Garden of the lost and abandoned is her first book. Outsider artist henry darger spent his life working as a janitor, but when he was home he lived in a much more fantastical world. The most impressive thing was how the lives of these girls seemed to represent his life and feelings toward it. Is a big admirer of writerartist henry darger, whom she featured in a film. On a snowy day in november 1972, a poor, badly crippled old man left his room on the third floor of a rooming house in chicago for the last time. With henry darger, dakota fanning, larry pine, frier mccollister. He has become famous for his posthumously discovered 15,145page, singlespaced fantasy manuscript called the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of. April 12, 1892 april, 1973 was an american writer and artist who worked as a hospital custodian in chicago, illinois.
When academy award winning filmmaker jessica yu was approached about doing a film about euripides, she was utterly at a loss. When the documentary is oscar winning director jessica yus hauntingly. She approaches it partially as a narrative, partially as a fantasy, and overall as as documentary. Is drawn to dark or humorous subject matter, preferably both. Henry darger, art by any darger was best known for his story, in the realms of the unreal, which contained over three hundred of his beautiful watercolor paintings. From 1997 documentary oscar winner jessica yu breathing lessons.
Darger s strange amalgam of gothic fairytale fantasy and victorian childrens book illustration is best summed up by yu, who says. Feb 09, 2016 henry darger is one of the most famous outsider artists in the world. Jessica yu takes the bait as she delves into the life of this reclusive janitor whounbeknownst to his small circle of acquaintancesspent his evenings alone in his room, for decades, creating. Jun 14, 2011 when does a documentary about an artist become a work of art in and of itself. If you are interested in learning something, i encourage you to see, in the realms of the unreal. In 2004 a pbs documentary of his life and work was created by academyaward winning director and writer jessica yu. What the old janitor did in this room, no one knew, says the littlegirl narrator child actress dakota fanning, with her usual eerie. In the realms of henry darger a high school curriculum from the american folk art museum education department. What struck the palo altoborn yu, though, during a summer of sifting. When does a documentary about an artist become a work of art in and of itself. Watercolor kit watercolor paintings henry darger community art art world filmmaking art history coloring books folk art.
Yu graduated from yale university in new haven, connecticut, phi beta kappa, summa cum laude, with a b. Jul 28, 2012 the realms of the unreal jessica yu 2004 accochamps. A documentary on henry darger, visionary artist, janitor, and novelist. Was outsider artist henry darger a troubled gay man. Henry darger has been dubbed a pedophile and a sadist, a religious fanatic, a loner who worked most of his life as a janitor, and a hoarder who scavenged chicagos north side for the detritusmagazines, catalogs, newspapersthat inspired his art.
From minute one my jaw was on the floor and i was swept away into the fantastic world he had created. Henry darger was a great fan of moviesscenes from silent films starring the great mary pickford seem to have been particular favoritesand dargers own life, as well as his extraordinary artwork, has been the subject of several films, notably jessica yus awardwinning 2004 documentary, in the realms of the unreal. It was also where young henry darger and his father lived in a converted carriage house. Documentary in the realms of the unreal showig in new. Sep 21, 2016 henry darger, while not the most famous american artist in general, is one of the best known and most soughtafter artist in the outsider art and has inspired all kinds of work in that genre. Jessica yus protagonist examines extreme obsession sfgate. Jessica yus book garden of the lost and abandoned nautilus book award winner about gladys kilabbala and the children she saves, also touches on luweros perseverance gardens and the positive changes they brought to the community. See more ideas about henry darger, outsider art and horror.
Henry darger, dakota fanning, larry pine, jessica yu. He has become famous for his posthumously discovered 15,145page, singlespaced fantasy manuscript called the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinian war storm, caused by the child slave rebellion, along with several hundred drawings and watercolor paintings illustrating the story. In it acclaimed documentary film maker jessica yu tells the story of the mysterious selftaught artist henry darger. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Film description in the realms of the unreal pov pbs. In the realms of the unreal 2004 directed by jessica yu. Within yu s invigorating movie we take an extremely intense and magical trip into the litteknown art of henry darger. Documentary in the realms of the unreal showig in new haven. April 12, 1892 april, 1973 was a reclusive american writer and artist who worked as a hospital custodian in chicago, illinois.
Books full frame documentary film festival programs. Henry darger american, henry darger lived alone in a oneroom chicago apartment a reclusive janitor by day, and an incredibly prolific artist and writer at night. The following passage is excerpted from volume i of henry darger s novel, the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinnian war storm, caused by the child slave rebellion. The enigma of henry darger by ben sachs in the chicago reader revolutions of the night, a new documentary about famed outsider artist henry darger, begins like a horror movie, as two people investigate the ruins of a longshuttered state sanatorium for children in central illinois. Henry darger was born in chicago in 1892 and spent much of his childhood in a home for feebleminded.
An orphaned recluse who lived out his life of menial labor in a oneroom downtown chicago apartment, darger. Henry darger worked all his life in menial jobs in chicago. Henry darger, while not the most famous american artist in general, is one of the best known and most soughtafter artist in the outsider art and has inspired all kinds of work in that genre. The subject of jessica yu s documentary in the realms of the unreal, the chicagoan was a lifelong recluse and likely schizophrenic who died in a.
Why he kept it a secret is a mystery but were going to try and find out. Reclusive janitor by day, visionary artist by night, darger s 15,000 page novel. The animation is beautiful as it really transforms us in the world of dargers artwork and life. Jan 12, 2020 outsider artist henry darger spent his life working as a janitor, but when he was home he lived in a much more fantastical world. Henry darger was so reclusive that when he died his neighbors were surprised to find a 15,145page manuscript along with hundreds of paintings depicting the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glodecoangelinnian war storm, cased by the child slave. Mar 24, 2004 this work, a book with 15,000 pages and countless images, is unseen until after his death 1973, when his neighbors discover what hes created. Henry darger was a great fan of moviesscenes from silent films starring the great mary pickford seem to have been particular favoritesand darger s own life, as well as his extraordinary artwork, has been the subject of several films, notably jessica yu s awardwinning 2004 documentary, in the realms of the unreal. Jul 29, 2008 in the realms of the unreal jessica yu, 2004 his landlords discovered among his junky remaining possessions a 15,145page book, of sorts, called the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinnian war storm, caused by the child slave rebellion. A single poem, 96 pages long, inspired by the work of henry darger. Fantasy takes flight as film enters dargers world the. Jessica lives in southern california with her husband, the writer and teacher mark salzman, and their two daughters, ava and esme. In the realms of the unreal, dvd henry darger, dakota.
Jan 12, 2005 directed by jessica yu, it tells the story of a friendless chicago janitor called henry darger, who spent most of his life building acollection of string balls and medicine bottles, to go with his. Jessica yu is an academy awardwinning and emmy awardwinning filmmaker and writer working in a variety of media and genres in 2019, she has been nominated for emmy for best directing for a limited series for fosseverdon, the fx series starring sam. The man was a mystery, and one that will never be answered. Henry darger is an isolated janitor in chicago, spending most of his time alone in his apartment. Henry couldnt have carried on a mature conversation about. Henry darger paris ville movie poster art naive art outsider art french artists animation medium art jennie. Subtitled the mystery of henry darger, it is an all too apt description. Born in chicago in1892, darger was placed in an orphanage at age 8 after his mother died and his father was unable to take. We are introduced to governor robert vivian, emperor of the catholic kingdom abbieannia, and his seven daughters. She calls it an imaginative documentary about a man who lived almost entirely inside his own imagination.
In the realms of the unreal 2004stream and watch online. His landlords discovered among his junky remaining possessions a 15,145page book, of sorts, called the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinnian war storm, caused by the child slave rebellion. Henry darger is one of the worlds bestknown outsider artists, but the fact that no one interviewed in in the realms of the unreal, jessica yu s excellent new documentary on. What struck the palo altoborn yu, though, during a. Filmmaker jessica yu s new film about darger has the same name.
Henry darger s life was made for the movies, which is why it is important that esteemed documentary filmmaker jessica yu is the first to explore it in her documentary in the realms of the unreal susan west, prod. Awardwinning short filmmaker jessica yu makes her featurelength debut with in the realms of the unreal, a documentary about outsider artist henry darger. He had taught himself to draw material sourced from comics, old books and posters found in rubbish bins and although his work is considered outsider art he had a keen eye and good sense of design. The realms of the unreal jessica yu 2004 accochamps. The henry darger room collection intuit the center for intuitive and outsider art the official henry darger website. Darger, who was considered to be a mentally ill man. Jessica yu, joan huang, kara vallow, henry darger, jessica yu. Reclusive janitor by day, visionary artist by night, outsider artist henry darger moved through life virtually unnoticed. Spending all his off hours alone, he whiled away the hours working on a 15,000 page illustrated novel called the realms of the unreal. On a snowy day in november 1972, a poor, badly crippled old man left h. What no one knows is that he is completing an epic work of art within the four walls of his home. Jessica yu s book garden of the lost and abandoned nautilus book award winner about gladys kilabbala and the children she saves, also touches on luweros perseverance gardens and the positive changes they brought to the community. In the realms of the unreal immerses us in dargers startling universe of innocence and pain, showing how he forged magic out of the bleakest of lives.
Jessica yu uses dargers book to explore his life and mindset, supplementing his own drawings and words with interviews from people who knew him. Henry darger was born in chicago in 1892 and spent much of his. The fantasy world of a mysterious artist the new york times. Jessica yu the protagonist protagonist is the latest documentary by the very talented jessica yu. In the realms of the unreal is a 2004 documentary film directed by jessica yu about american outsider artist henry darger 18921973 an obscure janitor during his life, darger is known for the posthumous discovery of his elaborate 15,145page fantasy manuscript entitled the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinnian war storm. Director jessica yu on her henry darger doc in the realms of the unreal. After the death of his mother he was placed in a catholic home for boys and then into the lincoln asylum for feebleminded children in rural illinois, from which he ran away at the age of seventeen.
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