FILM REVIEW - THE ENIGMA OF KASPER HAUSER
A Werner Herzog movie from the 1970's featuring the rarely seen actor Bruno S, who was to die soon after making the film. It tells of the legendary, but true story of Kasper Hauser who was found in a Bavarian Town Square, with a note that asked if he could become a Cavalry Officer like his father before him. Hauser however, had never been seen in the town before, or anywhere else. He had been apparently kept in a cellar all his life, fed only bread for years and had never seen people, trees or anything of the outside world until suddenly abandoned.
Kasper proved bright and intelligent and the mystery of his origins made him a local celebrity, and many came to ask questions of him. Kasper was also nonplussed by the Church. In one brilliant scene in the film he runs out of a service screaming. Asked why by his friends, he says "I could not stand the noise. The singing to me sounded like howling. And when the singing stopped, the priest started howling."
Hauser comes over through S. as a great naive, oblivious of his true wisdom, and his eagerness to return to his simple Plato's Cave like prison cell is touching. Hauser was eventually stabbed to death by an unknown assailant, so his origins and passing proved great unsolved mysteries. Herzog supposes and claims his father, jealous of his new fame and fortune, played some part in his demise. Lovely existential film with a stunning central performance.
Arthur Chappell
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