For each of the captivating subjects in the breezily entertaining documentary Superhuman: World’s Smallest People, the true measurement of a person is more than just inches and pounds. It’s a formula built from equal parts determination, perseverance and the lessons learned from overcoming profound adversities. Living life as a midget is no small feat. Even the most mundane of daily tasks pose a challenge – from pumping gas to placing an over-the-counter order at a restaurant to using public restroom facilities. Michael Hembury, the smallest man in Britain at 2 feet 11 inches, knows these obstacles all too well. Upon his birth, the doctors urged Michael’s own mother to give up on him. But from an early age, he refused to let his dwarfism hinder his spirit or his opportunities. Today, he thrives at his job in a customs office and enjoys camaraderie and recreation with a close-knit family of friends. He accepts the realities and limitations imposed by his size, but possesses the strength of character to view his condition with amused detachment. The film features additional inspiring portraits of other height-challenged figures who are determined to find the blessings in their disadvantages. Constantly bullied as an adolescent, 38-year old Tanyalee Davis transformed her pain into comedy, and her highly successful stand-up act has garnered her acclaim in clubs all over the world and the strongly devoted love of a normal-sized man. Then there’s Ping Ping, a young boy living in Mongolia with his family under extremely modest conditions. As the film opens, a representative from the Guinness Book of World Records is travelling across the world to determine if he is indeed the world’s smallest person at 2 feet and 6 inches. If Ping Ping succeeds in claiming the title, it will assuredly bring him worldwide recognition and change the quality of life for both him and his entire family. Superhuman: World’s Smallest People provides inspiring glimpses into the lives of those who thrive in the face of tremendous challenges. In the process, the film pays affectionate tribute to all that is extraordinary in even the smallest among us.
