The Dwarvenaut

Filmmaker Josh Bishop profiles the life, work, and boundless enthusiasm of Stefan Pokorny, a part-Korean adoptee living in Brooklyn, who was drawn to art from an early age. Pokorny was also transfixed by the imaginary worlds of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, and fusing his two loves, he sired Dwarven Forge, a successful business that sells modular miniature medieval dungeons and even an entire city layout that D&D players can build to set the tone for their inner fantasies. As the ever-boyish Pokorny continues to evolve his business, cameras travel with him to Italy and other destinations where he is inspired by classic architecture and fine arts. Although fixated individuals who create their own mythological mini-worlds often harbor pathologies of secret torment and trauma, no such psychiatric labels are pinned on Pokorny, who is here honored as a happy, creative visionary within his odd little niche genre, and no less deserving of respect than any artist-entrepreneur. Highly recommended. (C. Cassady)