The Tallest Dwarf is another documentary that has a lot of interesting themes and fascinating subjects, but not enough to justify its feature length. It's quite well-directed, and features a personal hook for its director. But it ends up trying to cover every aspect of dwarfism, diluting its impact.
Filmmaker Julie Wyman grew up to be an average height, but with some of the traits common to dwarfism. It brought her the attention of bullies, which in turn affected how she saw herself. Her parents' noble attempts to reinforce how "normal" she was just made her feel more different. Having a sister with none of those same traits didn't help either. But how did those who lived with the more obvious signs – the short stature, the limited mobility, the constant pain – see themselves in a world that would prefer not to see them at all?
Wyman and her group of Little People (or LP) share their experiences with her through poetry, dance, and short films. Some of these are more riveting than others, but they're all authentic, with a potent mix of frustration and joy. Perhaps the most compelling of these folks is Mark Povinelli, a naturally charismatic actor and gifted speaker. You may have seen him in movies like Mirror Mirror and Nightmare Alley. It's painful to hear him speak about how his most high-profile roles emphasize his dwarfism instead of letting him play a character who just happens to have dwarfism.
But when Wyman expands to the infighting in the Little People of America conference, the doc goes astray. Yes, it's worth exploring the debate about a nonprofit accepting sponsorship from a pharmaceutical company. That's especially true when some LP view clinical trials to eliminate dwarfism traits in utero as akin to eugenics. But in simply presenting the debate without more context, it starts to feel like a dead end.
The Tallest Dwarf makes its strongest case when it's focused on exploring the ups and downs of real LP through art. When it tries to go further, it misses the mark.
