NoBody's Perfect

At a time when adverse medical side effects have led to the removal of many pharmaceuticals from the commercial market, Niko Von Glasow's documentary reminds us of the most notorious example of a dangerous prescription drug. Thalidomide, marketed during the 1950s and '60s as a non-addictive sedative, caused severe birth defects when taken by pregnant women, with one estimate suggesting that some 10,000 children died or were disfigured. NoBody's Perfect features 12 of the victims—including Von Glasow himself, whose arms are only several inches long, although his hands are of normal size. The narrative is structured around the filmmaker's project to persuade 11 other “Thalidomiders” to join him in posing for nude or semi-nude photographs for use in a book and a public art exhibit, with the purpose of helping others become more sensitized to such deformities through the images. Von Glasow also tries to contact the current chief executive of the family-owned Grünenthal company, which manufactured thalidomide but has never issued a formal apology or contributed to the payments the victims receive from the German government. But most of the footage revolves around Von Glasow's conversations with other survivors and members of their families (including the director's young son), who talk about their often painful experiences and express their hopes and fears. While that might sound like a recipe for a depressing documentary, NoBody's Perfect is anything but—it's a poignant film that also offers warmth, humor, and a touch of righteous anger. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)