If you expect Davide Manuli’s film
La leggenda di Kaspar Hauser to be a boring costume drama about the ‘wild child of Europe’, you’ll be surprised. The true story of Hauser is enveloped in mystery. The teenager turned up in Nuremberg’s city centre in 1828. He had been locked up in a darkened room for years, had been neglected and could hardly talk. No agreement has ever been reached on whether Hauser, who died in 1833, was murdered or committed suicide nor has his true heritage ever been uncovered.
However mysterious the real Hauser might be, Manuli's film, which has its world premiere at the IFFR coming Monday, is much, much weirder. The Italian director uses the basic premise, but has Hauser wash up on the coast of Sardinia where he turns into a DJ – the music of Vitalic plays a central role in the film. “Hauser’s story has fascinated me for over twenty years,” says Manuli, “but not for its actual meaning. Werner Herzog also once made a film about Hauser. In my opinion it is one of his worst because he literally just tells the story. That means nothing to me. I am more interested in the spiritual, religious and esoteric implications.”
The title role is played by Silvia Calderoni. “She is an icon of the Italian avant-garde, a very androgynous actress. The island’s sheriff is waiting for the messiah. This ambivalence is exactly what I was looking for in this role as it symbolises perfection.” Vincent Gallo, the ultimate specialist in weird, plays both the village sheriff and the sinister 'Pusher'. “He was very important for the double role. He came up with the Willie Nelson-like sheriff with long, blond hair and he convinced me that the evil 'Pusher' should be clad entirely in white.”
La leggenda di Kaspar Hauser – Davide Manuli
Monday 30 January 19:00 Pathé 1, Tuesday 31 14:45 LantarenVenster 2, Wednesday 1 February 22:30 de Doelen Jurriaanse Zaal, Friday 3 February 22:15 Pathé 3