7/26/2008

Documentary Film Of The Day: Whole...

Yesterday was a post-less day. I don't have many of those. A good remedy for lack of ideas is a challenging documentary film. Those of you who follow my recommendations know I don't shy away from uncomfortable subject matter. In the past I've featured:
  • A film about people who jump off the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • A film about racial division in a Lutheran church in the 60's.
  • A film about the atrocities of the Vietnam War.
  • A film about the tragic life of a convicted child molester.
These are the ones I know I have to watch without Megan. I totally understand, too. There is a lot of disturbing stuff to be found in documentary film. I'm just hyper-curious about everything, so I grit my teeth and watch. In most cases, I am rewarded with a fascinating film. The one I just saw was called "Whole" by Melody Gilbert (Who also made an interesting film called "A Life Without Pain"). It's about a very small group of people who have Body Integrity Identity Disorder. They feel that they would be happier living as an amputee, despite the fact that all of their limbs are fully functional. Some have actually had limbs amputated voluntarily. It sounds gruesome and insane. I'd be interested in what your impression of the people in the film is after you see it. You may be surprised.

12 comments:

Mnmom said...

I've read about this. One man took his own hand with a power tool and to this day his family thinks it was an accident. I believe it's a brain wiring issue.

Dr Zibbs said...

I just wish someone would make a film about a guy who carves bird sculptures while eating a popsicles. Stupid Hollywood. (by the way, the sculpts are awesome).

Doc said...

Perhaps they took the bible verse about "if your eye offends you, pluck it out" too seriously?

Doc

Falwless said...

I've heard about these people, also. I'd like to see this. And I'm very much like you -- hyper-curious about everything, especially anything related to the wide gamut of human experience.

Distributorcap said...

i also have heard about this
i do not think i could watch it......

Joe said...

When you're done watching this, Google "amputee porn"

Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein said...

I've heard of this, I must see it.

Micgar said...

Oh I heard about this one! I heard that it's really intense! Very strange disorder!

Sean said...

Since the film Whole came out, some more has become known about BIID. It is not just people who need to be amputees, but also people who need to be paralysed, or deaf, or blind, etc.

For those of you interested in "the wide gamut of human experience", you may wish to see the following sites:
- http://biid-info.org - a resource site for information about BIID (including most of the published literature on the topic)
- http://transabled.org - A multi-author blog about the experience of living with BIID

Some Guy said...

Sean- Thanks for the info and I appreciate you stopping by! The movie was very illuminating.

SkylersDad said...

I met a wheelchair racer at the Bolder Boulder who raced on the Quickie chair team. He was very nice to Skyler and we had a great conversation about his racing. He told me he was trying to find a doctor who would take off both of his legs because they were too heavy and slowed him down. He said I don't need them anymore, why not?

GETkristiLOVE said...

It sounds like an episode of Dexter... I added Stevie too - I missed that one.