AllMovie

American independent filmmaker Melody Gilbert directs and produces the documentary Whole, an actual exploration of people obsessed with losing a limb. Her subjects all share the same desire to remove one of their limbs, but in many cases it's men who wish to be rid of a leg. The topic is rightfully difficult to address, as it lacks both proper scientific terminology and scholarship by medical professionals. In the U.K., Beatriz Baz is stricken with the affliction which has caused him to purposefully contract frostbite in his left leg, while George Boyer from Florida tried to shoot one of his legs with a gun and Kevin Davidson arranged to get his leg surgically removed. Subjects Kees and Dan are known as "wannabe amputees," who have their legs but remain tormented by this unstudied behavior pattern. Gilbert gains some authoritative commentary from Dr. Michael First. Whole was screened at the IFP Los Angeles Film Festival.