A man is consumed by a powerful and secret desire to remove his own leg in a new Norwegian film that explores a rare psychological condition. The story centers on Amir, who suffers from body integrity dysphoria, a disorder that causes him to feel his left leg is not a part of him and must be removed, despite it being physically healthy.
Amir lives with his supportive girlfriend in a society known for its tolerance. When a drunken attempt to harm his leg is mistaken for a suicide attempt, he is met with compassion rather than understanding of his true struggle. He is offered a stable office job by a friend, but his obsession draws him repeatedly to hardware stores, fixating on the tools that could fulfill his desire.
His life changes when he discovers a woman on television who is open about her own form of the condition—she wishes to be blind. He seeks her out, and they form a unique, platonic bond. Through her, he finds a space to express his hidden self, secretly creating art that depicts him as an amputee, images he hides from his girlfriend.
The film builds tension with flashes of a bloody future and a persistent on-screen countdown, signaling an impending, life-altering “accident.” While the central question of whether he will go through with the amputation is answered, the story leaves the deeper origins of his profound bodily alienation largely unexplored.
The lead performance is physically compelling, particularly in moments of anguish, but the character’s withdrawn and self-absorbed nature can make it difficult to empathize with him, raising questions about the patience of those around him. Nevertheless, the film leaves a lasting impression, not just for its visceral elements but for the unsettling questions it poses about the relationship between the mind, the body, and the self.
