Didn’t You Hear…? (I Due Mondi Di Kevin) – 1971

You may wonder who Mr. Krogstad was. Well, not only was he one of the most respected independent directors/screenwriters on the Seattle scene but he was, in fact, the writer and director of “Didn’t you hear …?”, that was Italian named as “I due mondi di Kevin” (something like “Kevin’s Two Worlds”).

Now you may wonder what “Didn’t you hear …?” is… okay, enough of this little game: it is one of the most particular and difficult films to find.

To begin with, it has a troubled history: declared as released in 1983, it actually dates back to December 1970 and was released simultaneously in some cinemas of the Seattle circuit on February 24, 1971, just in coincidence with a terrible snowstorm, so that it was viewed only by a very small group of people.

A broader theatrical release through Futurama International was apparently planned for July 1972, but actually, no evidence of any further screenings other than those in Seattle has been found.

The Skip Sherwood Productions renewed the copyright in 1983 (which is why it was mistakenly assigned 1983 as the year of release) and the film began airing late in the evening, finally beginning to garner a fan following.

It was then reissued in 1985 on VHS by American National Enterprises (A.N.E.) Home Video / Prism Entertainment, in such a small number, that it is really hard to find even in the USA.

It is not even clear whether a DVD version was produced or not.

In short, it’s the classic ghost film, of which perhaps all traces have been lost … if it wasn’t that Classic2vintage has what is certainly the only Italian language copy existing on VHS, patiently recorded over 25 years ago during a unique TV airing.

And it is also of quite good quality.

Honestly, we don’t even know how it is possible that there is an Italian edition of this film.

And after having done a bit of history, let’s go now to talk about the film itself.

At a time when psychedelic and experimental cinema was on the agenda, it was decided to launch “Didn’t You Hear” as ‘the first film with a totally electronic soundtrack! You will experience sounds and sensations that you have never had before’.

The soundtrack, in fact, was written and played by the electronic specialist Mort Garson, working it with his modular Moog, while the object/script and direction (erroneously attributed to the producer Skip Sherwood) were the work of our Mr. Krogstad.

But what is the film about?

Therefore, Kevin is a college student with a high sensitivity and with many problems in confronting and living in contact with his peers.

Practically, what today would be easily dismissed as a sociopathic nerd: extremely shy and with great difficulty in relating to the other sex, he lives in practice that difficult situation in which a person finds himself when he is more mature and sensitive than his own physiological age.

Unable to bond with others in reality, he takes refuge in psychedelic daydreams where he and his classmates (the friends he cannot have in reality) take possession of an abandoned sailing boat, a few meters from the shore, baptize him “Queen di Sheba” and play the life of pirates, crossing the length and breadth of an archipelago of islands (mainly Lopez Island and the San Juan Islands).

In these journeys, full of dialogues and interesting and symbolic philosophical considerations (“why do humans stop playing at some point in life?” – “they are robbing us our individuality”), they meet the inhabitants of the islands and situations often arise. surreal and colorful.

This is the noteworthy part of the film, along with psychedelic photography and ritual gestures devoted to symbolism.

As for the “reality” part, shot on the Washington University campus, it is certainly predictable but serves as an effective preamble to launch the dream part.

Krogstad also took care of photography and it is quite clear that the project was very close to his heart. The result is not bad at all, the soundtrack of Garson, full of particular sounds and vintage atmospheres, is dreamy and psychedelic and goes well with the surreal images of the adventures that the new psychic pirates live among the islands.

Let’s move on to the acting sector: Kevin is played by a very young Dennis Christopher, super prolific character actor and protagonist of some cult films such as “All American Boys” and “Dissolvenza in Nero” (Fade to Black), probably however in Italy his most famous role is that of Eddy Spaghetti in the first, excellent, version of “IT” by Tommy Lee Wallace and Larry Cohen.

James, Kevin’s only friend in the real world, is the well-known Gary Busey and Paige, Kevin’s dream partner, is the charming Cheryl Waters, making her debut here.

The only trailer available, however, is oriented on the scarce action scenes present and therefore does not give a real idea of the film.

The movie trailer

“Didn’t you hear?” is a film that, all in all, retains a good freshness and keeps alive the interest in the vision and in its youthful message, which actually applies to all ages.

Classic2vintage’s opinion is that the film is worth watching; the hope, at this point, is you’ll be able to find it.