• Stumped

    Directed by Robin Berghaus
    US | 72 minutes | True Stories

  • Stumped

    Directed by Robin Berghaus
    US | 72 minutes | True Stories

  • Stumped

    Directed by Robin Berghaus
    US | 72 minutes | True Stories

Hailed by The Boston Globe as “inspiring, heartbreaking and often hilarious,” Stumped traces the journey of Will Lautzenheiser, who, after a bacterial infection required amputation of both his arms and legs, becomes a stand-up comic and a candidate for a pioneering double-arm transplant.

film synopsis

Filmmaker Will Lautzenheiser was just starting a dream job in Montana when his life took a shocking turn: stricken with a rare bacterial infection, both his arms and his legs had to be amputated to save his life. Hailed by The Boston Globe as “inspiring, heartbreaking and often hilarious,” Stumped traces Will’s response to this tragedy, as he becomes a stand-up comic (a very funny one!). Then, with his devoted partner Angel at his side, he takes another leap of faith by volunteering for a pioneering surgery: a double-arm transplant. If successful, he will be the third person at the Brigham and Women's Hospital to receive the surgery, but more important, he will be able to hold a camera in his transplanted hands, and reach out to feel raindrops falling. Stumped is the story of Will’s creativity and courage, as well as a tribute to the devotion of his family and friends and the dedication of the doctors attempting a medical miracle.

film details

Director: Robin Berghaus
Producers: Robin Berghaus, Bryan W. Davies, Sam Kauffmann, Kevin McCarthy
Cinematographers: Robin Berghaus
Editor: Robin Berghaus, Renny McCauley
Music: Curtis Heath
Country: US
Language: English
Year: 2017
Running Time: 72 minutes
Awards: Global Health Competition, Best Film, Cleveland International Film Festival; Flickers’ Youth Film Jury Award, Best Feature Film Doc, Rhode Island International Film Festival

2018 Film Festival