lifesoboring I was blown away by this movie. During certain scenes I was yelling at the screen. And you know it's a darn good movie if it has you doing that. It was incredibly touching. I was cheering for the boy very hard, hoping that he would survive and be rescued. All the skillful survival stuff he did was amazing for an eight-year-old However, it makes me doubt that, in real life, a boy that age would be as smart and resourceful as Dirkie is. The dangers and the incidents that happen to him (and his faithful tiny dog) keep you riveted to the screen. This is a movie where you care about the characters (the boy and his dog) as much as you possibly could care about any movie characters. The dog is a very important character; the movie would not have been the same without him. Just a couple of days prior to watching Lost in the Desert, I watched Storm Boy, which is similar, and which I also rated 10 stars. It's also a boy/father/pet, family story. Storm Boy is not a life or death survival story, but it also conveys a lot of emotion. If you watch that one you will see the similarities, which is interesting. Old Yeller seems to be in the same vein as these movies too, and in some ways, Born Free. And(it just occurred to me), Walkabout.

bbadenov-1 Strangely enough, I too saw this movie when I was really young but as I grew up wondered if it was just a dream. It gave me nightmares. A kid is in a plane crash in the desert and everyone dies except him and his dog (there may have only been the pilot in the plane because it was pretty small). I believe you see the dead pilot at some point which is very traumatizing to a kid. Later on he can't find his dog and is offered some soup from some desert nomad's. He, of course, assumes that the proffered fare is actually dog soup and throws rocks at the nomad's. Then he finds his dog has actually just wandered off to give birth to several puppies. These puppies of course die later on because there is no sustenance for them.Its not a kid's movie in any way shape or form. However, I would like to see it again if only so I understand the story through adult's eyes even though it might bring back the nightmares again.

dan_egan31 When I think of the film 'Dirkie' aka 'Lost in the Desert', I am immediately filled with numerous emotions; from pity for the child, to gratitude for how the film educated me, to amazement at how so few people appear to have seen it, to anger at the fact that none of my three movie books (nor any others through which i have flicked) make any reference to it! 'Dirkie' should be compulsory viewing for all children, as I am certain that, for me anyway, my life was enriched through experiencing it (and I was only five years of age)! While 'Lost in the Desert' was a mere 'support' to the main feature 'The Flight of the Doves'- mum having brought myself and my sisters to see the latter in 1970- 'Dirkie' blew us away! This masterpiece (I exaggerate not) was clearly aimed at a young audience, but having recently acquired -and viewed- a DVD copy, I have once again confirmed after 36 years, that this movie is so much more. Many of you have listed some of the profound images which have remained with you over the years, and I fully concur, but for me, Dirkie has so many more attributes; like the clever direction, timing and script, in addition to a rich soundtrack (of which we are not always consciously aware). The juxtaposition of sophisticated Chopin and images of primitive, arid desert was a move taken by an inspired director, indeed, the entire movie is inspired, with each and every scene having meaning, relevance and the ability to stir a spectrum of emotions in those who have the privilege to experience (and the intelligence to understand) it. I will be eternally grateful to the director (and his son) for the enjoyment which their creation has given me for so many years. Apart from all of the other things which this film has done for me, it succeeded in stirring primal emotions in me (a little 5 year old boy at the time) and inspiring me to dream.

imaldris47 I'm amazed that this is a real movie. I was almost certain it was a child's hallucination. Or perhaps a real movie made by hippies on lsd.I was somewhat frightened that it was an allegorical dream I was supposed to be applying to my life. I really need to watch this movie again. Do they carry it in video stores? I also thought it was Australian. Does the leading man have an oz sound to him? Also...was there a top hat or a bowler's hat or something? I won't know until I can finally see it again! We should form a club of those disturbed by Dirkie. Dirkie's kids.!