Change Your Image
benkees
Reviews
Whole (2003)
One of the best documentaries of the 00s
An extremely thought provoking look at human beings that wish to live without one or more of their natural, healthy limbs attached to their bodies.
The best reason to watch this film and more importantly, the best reason to show it to others is exemplified in my own reaction. I procured the film with the expectation to see some crazy people and to study the freaky and clearly unhealthy desire for self amputation. I expected their beliefs to be governed by reactions to terrible childhoods or by simple self absorbed obsession. What we as an audience receive is a profound study of what human identity is. It shows us how important it is to bring forward issues affecting our ability to live comfortably within our identities that exist within a culture and opens up a discourse regarding what restrictions we as a ruling majority of normal people place on others without even realizing. To what extent can we judge the right and wrong of personal identity?
This documentary is about many things, from the intensely personal and moving to the most grand cultural expectations. It will get you thinking. I can't recommend it enough.