In the Realms of the Unreal

In the Realms of the Unreal is a documentary and biography of Henry Darger,  one of the most celebrated examples of “outsider art,” art created outside the boundaries of official culture.  Identified as learning disabled, he worked all his life in menial jobs.  An artist, janitor, and novelist, Darger lived alone and in poverty, and spent his free time working on a 15,000 page illustrated novel called The Realms of the Unreal.  Full of religious imagery, drama, and fantasy, this novel was only discovered after Darger was moved to a hospital during the last days of his life. 

Narrated by Dakota Fanning and Larry Pine, this documentary uses illustrations, interviews with neighbors, and passages from his works to explore the mind of Henry Darger.  Brought to life on film, this documentary deals with universal themes--the search for meaning in everyday existence, personal control, connection with others, and morality.  Darger created beauty out of what might be considered to be the bleakest of lives.  One review in Variety says Darger "has been posthumously lionized as a visionary genius."  Released in 2004, this documentary is not yet rated, and is available on DVD.