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. When academy award winning filmmaker jessica yu was approached about doing a film about euripides, she was utterly at a loss. Is a big admirer of writerartist henry darger, whom she featured in a film. Fantasy takes flight as film enters dargers world the. Jul 28, 2012 the realms of the unreal jessica yu 2004 accochamps. Darger, who was considered to be a mentally ill man throughout his 80 odd years, was at once dickensian. She approaches it partially as a narrative, partially as a fantasy, and overall as as documentary. 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. Filmmaker jessica yu s new film about darger has the same name. In the realms of the unreal 2004 directed by jessica yu.
If you are interested in learning something, i encourage you to see, in the realms of the unreal. Garden of the lost and abandoned is her first book. What struck the palo altoborn yu, though, during a. Jessica yu, joan huang, kara vallow, henry darger, jessica yu. 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 is an isolated janitor in chicago, spending most of his time alone in his apartment. The most impressive thing was how the lives of these girls seemed to represent his life and feelings toward it. 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. Jessica yu the protagonist protagonist is the latest documentary by the very talented jessica yu. From 1997 documentary oscar winner jessica yu breathing lessons. Books full frame documentary film festival programs. First released in 2005, yu spent five years bringing this reclusive artist to life on film.
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. 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. Jun 14, 2011 when does a documentary about an artist become a work of art in and of itself. Subtitled the mystery of henry darger, it is an all too apt description. When the documentary is oscar winning director jessica yus hauntingly. 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. The illustrations of the vivian sisters provided insight into his eyes. Living alone and in poverty, he had no friends or close family. The henry darger story is fascinating, and it made a terrific documentary for jessica yu and her animation team. Henry darger paris ville movie poster art naive art outsider art french artists animation medium art jennie. Henry darger, dakota fanning, larry pine, jessica yu.
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. 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. Born in chicago in1892, darger was placed in an orphanage at age 8 after his mother died and his father was unable to take. Director jessica yu on her henry darger doc in the realms of the unreal. Feb 09, 2016 henry darger is one of the most famous outsider artists in the world. 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. In the early 1970s, semireclusive janitor henry darger moved out of his chicago boarding house.
Film description in the realms of the unreal pov pbs. In the realms of the unreal by jessica yu jessica yu, larry. Was outsider artist henry darger a troubled gay man. 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. 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. Awardwinning short filmmaker jessica yu makes her featurelength debut with in the realms of the unreal, a documentary about outsider artist henry darger. This article is dedicated, with admiration, respect and love, to chris alaswad in the realms of the unreal, a film by jessica yu. Jessica yu s movie about this man is at once both entertaining and a little aggravating since so much is still not known. We are introduced to governor robert vivian, emperor of the catholic kingdom abbieannia, and his seven daughters. 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. Born in 1892, darger lived in chicago and worked as a janitor for most of his life. April 12, 1892 april, 1973 was an american writer and artist who worked as a hospital custodian in chicago, illinois.
In the realms of the unreal, dvd henry darger, dakota. Darger, who was considered to be a mentally ill man. Documentary in the realms of the unreal showig in new. A fifthgeneration chinese american, she was blessed with parents who were fine with their kids going into the arts. The latest documentary by oscar winner jessica yu was inspired by a serendipitous glimpse into the. 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. In the film in the realms of the unreal, the personal storybook drawings of reclusive artist henry darger. The story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the. The fantasy world of a mysterious artist the new york times. 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. Darger s strange amalgam of gothic fairytale fantasy and victorian childrens book illustration is best summed up by yu, who says.
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. In the realms of henry darger a high school curriculum from the american folk art museum education department. The life and work of mark obrien comes in the realms of the unreal, the astounding tale of henry darger. She calls it an imaginative documentary about a man who lived almost entirely inside his own imagination. The realms of the unreal jessica yu 2004 accochamps. What no one knows is that he is completing an epic work of art within the four walls of his home. As a filmmaker, yu is known for both her scripted and nonfiction work, which includes the academy awardwinning short breathing lessons. The mystery of henry darger a documentary by jessica yu ovationsouthbound dvd graham reid jun 1. Reclusive janitor by day, visionary artist by night, outsider artist henry darger moved through life virtually unnoticed.
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. In the realms of the unreal is a 2004 documentary film directed by jessica yu about american outsider artist henry darger 18921973. Yu deftly weaves together parallel threads of dargers life. 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. 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. 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. 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 man was a mystery, and one that will never be answered. Henry darger, in the realms of the possibly real book. Jessica yu uses dargers book to explore his life and mindset, supplementing his own drawings and words with interviews from people who knew him. Yu graduated from yale university in new haven, connecticut, phi beta kappa, summa cum laude, with a b. In the realms of the unreal the mystery of henry darger. Henry darger was born in chicago in 1892 and spent much of his childhood in a home for feebleminded. The drawings and writings of henry darger 18921973 disturbing visions created in his oneroom apartment in chicago have brought him worldwide posthumous fame.
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. Documentary in the realms of the unreal showig in new haven. 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. On a snowy day in november 1972, a poor, badly crippled old man left h. 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. 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. 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. Henry darger was born in chicago in 1892 and spent much of his. Henry couldnt have carried on a mature conversation about. With henry darger, dakota fanning, larry pine, frier mccollister. Dec 02, 2007 when academy award winning filmmaker jessica yu was approached about doing a film about euripides, she was utterly at a loss. The henry darger room collection intuit the center for intuitive and outsider art the official henry darger website.
In the realms of the unreal 2004stream and watch online. 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. In the realms of the unreal is a documentary about the reclusive chicagobased artist henry darger. With dreamlike animation, poignant narration by dakota fanning and a haunting musical score, academy award winner jessica yu fashions a bold and beautiful film. When does a documentary about an artist become a work of art in and of itself. Reclusive janitor by day, visionary artist by night, darger s 15,000 page novel. Reclusive janitor by day, visionary artist by night, outsider artist henry darger. Is drawn to dark or humorous subject matter, preferably both. It was also where young henry darger and his father lived in a converted carriage house. 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. 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. In 2004 a pbs documentary of his life and work was created by academyaward winning director and writer jessica yu. See more ideas about henry darger, outsider art and horror.
In the realms of the unreal by jessica yu jessica yu. 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. April 12, 1892 april, 1973 was a reclusive american writer and artist who worked as a hospital custodian in chicago, illinois. 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. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Henry darger worked all his life in menial jobs in chicago. What the old janitor did in this room, no one knew, says the littlegirl narrator child actress dakota fanning, with her usual eerie. What struck the palo altoborn yu, though, during a summer of sifting. 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. In it acclaimed documentary film maker jessica yu tells the story of the mysterious selftaught artist henry darger. Jessica yus protagonist examines extreme obsession sfgate.
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. 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. 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. When the documentary is oscar winning director jessica yu s hauntingly beautiful in the realms of the unreal the mystery of henry darger. From the meet the artists series of the 2004 sundance film festival. Watercolor kit watercolor paintings henry darger community art art world filmmaking art history coloring books folk art. 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. 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. But after his death, a treasure trove was discovered in his oneroom. Within yu s invigorating movie we take an extremely intense and magical trip into the litteknown art of henry darger. Sep 18, 20 henry darger, in the realms of the possibly real.