Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1997)

Navigating through the turbulent waters of survival and strength, "Little Dieter Needs to Fly" offers a compelling tale of Dieter Dengler, a German-American naval pilot in the Vietnam War. In 1966, Dengler's life takes a harrowing turn when he's shot down over Laos, captured, and left to languish until he is a mere 85 pounds. His resilience shines as he escapes barefoot, braving monsoons, leeches, and machete-wielding villagers, until a miraculous rescue plucks him from the jaws of death. The narrative leaps backward to paint a vivid picture of Dengler's early life: a young German boy surviving Allied bombings in World War II, enduring postwar poverty, and being apprenticed to a smith - a life punctuated by regular beatings. At 18, he emigrates and finds himself peeling potatoes in the U.S. Air Force. His journey then takes him to California for college, before enlistment in the Navy offers him the chance to learn to fly. Now nearing 60, and nestled on the serene slopes of Mt. Tamalpais, Dengler recounts his extraordinary story - a quiet man of sorrows, bearing the weight of war, capture, harrowing conditions, and an audacious escape. The film also sees Dengler revisiting the sites of his capture and escape, recreating the near-death events for the camera in a soul-stirring display of remembrance and catharsis. "Little Dieter Needs to Fly" dares to ask the questions: Where did this man find the strength to survive against all odds? And how does he continue to live with the haunting memories etched deep within him? This is not merely a story of survival but an exploration of human spirit and tenacity against life's most daunting challenges.

Little Dieter Needs to Fly is a documentary movie featuring Dieter Dengler.

Little Dieter Needs to Fly is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Fandor, Freevee, Kanopy, Peacock, Peacock Premium, Plex, Plex Player, Shout! Factory TV, The Roku Channel and Tubi TV and it's also available on Cohen Media Amazon Channel and Fandor Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Little Dieter Needs to Fly on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies and YouTube.