The Amputee (1974)

In the fascinatingly surreal 5-minute short film, "The Amputee" (1974), Catherine Coulson delivers a compelling performance as a woman bereft of her legs, engrossed in the task of drafting a complex letter. Unfolding in the confined span of this film, the narrative is largely driven by the letter, a microcosm of a soap opera, brimming with the intricacies of human relationships, sentiments, and the echoes of words spoken, both endearing and offensive. Throughout the duration of the film, the viewer is drawn into the dichotomy of the emotionally charged content of the letter and the clinical efficiency of her male nurse, played by David Lynch. His hair in a long ponytail flipped over one shoulder, he meticulously prepares his instruments before unwrapping one of Coulson's stumps. The sound of snipping stitches and the flushing of the wound with a syringe are eerily juxtaposed against the woman's impassive narration, generating an air of absurdist tension. As the plot progresses, the film offers two distinct versions of the same narrative. In the first, the nurse's professional efficiency is starkly contrasted with the meandering nature of the letter. He works methodically, oblivious to the emotional turmoil captured in the woman's words. However, in the second version, the narrative takes an unexpected turn. The nurse's calm facade crumbles as he struggles to control a sudden, Python-style fountain of blood from the wound. His frantic efforts to stem the flow are in stark contrast to the woman's continued indifference, her focus unwavering from the important points she's making in her letter. "The Amputee" is an intriguing exploration of the human condition, effortlessly blurring the line between the mundane and the absurd. Through its unique narrative, the film challenges the viewer to question their perception of reality and their understanding of personal narratives and the human experience.

The Amputee is a drama movie featuring Catherine E. Coulson.

The Amputee is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.