In the Realms of the Unreal
User Score
9.0 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 5 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5

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  1. BayC.
    Dec 23, 2004
    10
    This film is as good as it gets in presenting the mystery of Darger's genius. The filmaker, Jessica Yu, doesn't answer the questions -- which we cannot know. She presents Darger's art in the context of the curiosity of his life. Artists will love this film. Enjoy!

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Variety
    Reviewed by: Joe Leydon
    60
    Documentarian Jessica Yu employs everything from animation and voiceover thesping to archival documents and eyewitness accounts while examining Henry Darger, a self-taught artist who has been posthumously lionized as a visionary genius.
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  2. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Ed Park
    70
    Jessica Yu's elegant new doc In the Realms of the Unreal is a spry, creative response to his (Darger's) oceanic talent and claustrophobic life.
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  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Dave Kehr
    80
    Obscure by nature and unwieldy by design, Darger's work is difficult to confront and consume; Ms. Yu has brought it a little closer, and that is as fine a public service as an art documentary can provide.
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