The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser (original title : Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle - Every man for himself and god against all) is a 1974 German film written and directed by Werner Herzog revisiting the legend of Kaspar Hauser.

Plot

Kaspar (played by Bruno S) lived for 17 years in a cellar devoid of human contact in 19th century Germany, fed by a stranger. One day of 1828 this same stranger teaches him how to walk and leaves him in the town of Nuremberg. He is the subject of the curiosity of all and is even exhibited in a circus before being rescued by Herr Daumer (Walter Ladengast) who patiently attempts to transform him. Kaspar soon learns to read and write but has difficulties grasping the finer points of religion and logic. Music is what pleases him most in this civilised world he would soon leave as he is one day stabbed to death, probably by the same man who brought it to Nuremberg. Kaspar rests in bed describing visions he had of the desert, and dies shortly thereafter.

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