This documentary is one of the strangest, most thought-provoking films I've ever seen. It gives you a raw, unbiased look into the world of the wannabe, a person who believes he cannot become whole until one of his limbs is removed. Some of the people in the film fantasize candidly about removing a specific limb, how they might go about it, and what the removal would accomplish. Other people in the film already are amputees, either through surgery or a self-inflicted wound. What kind of thing would a wannabe do to his own body? One man removed his lower leg by blowing it off with a shotgun, all the while making it look like an accident. Another man, after repeatedly being denied surgery in England (since he had no health problems or other medical condition that would require an amputation), carefully constructed a way to place part of his leg in dry ice until it was completely frozen, then he went to the emergency room and sought the removal of his leg. While the topic is shocking and the stories are nearly unbelievable, the movie portrays these people in a way that almost leaves you rooting for them. I certainly can't relate to their desires or impulses, but this film left me feeling like I understand them. It's clear that they're plagued by the need of becoming an amputee, and I walked out of the theater hoping that these people would someday find peace by becoming amputees. Relevant links:
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