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Paperman

Play trailer 2:10 Poster for Paperman 2020 1h 11m Biography Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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At the age of 17, James Lake had his right leg amputated due to bone cancer. Confined to his bedroom and unable to move, he discovered cardboard as the ideal medium--affordable, lightweight, and accessible--to express his world. Today, his cardboard sculptures, crafted with a technique unique in the world, continue to explore the theme of human fragility. The documentary follows James through the summer of 2018 on his journey from Devon, where he lives, to Lucca, where he was invited to create a monumental cardboard sculpture--the largest of his career--for the International Paper Biennial. Paperman tells the story of overcoming one's limits--physical, psychological, and social--as a necessary challenge to believe in oneself, one's abilities, and one's projects. James's story is a universal parable about the value of growth and transformation.

Cast & Crew

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Domenico Zazzara

Director

James Lake

Self

Domenico Zazzara

Screenwriter

Emiliano Galigani

Screenwriter

Emiliano Galigani

Producer
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Paperman

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Movie Info

Synopsis At the age of 17, James Lake had his right leg amputated due to bone cancer. Confined to his bedroom and unable to move, he discovered cardboard as the ideal medium--affordable, lightweight, and accessible--to express his world. Today, his cardboard sculptures, crafted with a technique unique in the world, continue to explore the theme of human fragility. The documentary follows James through the summer of 2018 on his journey from Devon, where he lives, to Lucca, where he was invited to create a monumental cardboard sculpture--the largest of his career--for the International Paper Biennial. Paperman tells the story of overcoming one's limits--physical, psychological, and social--as a necessary challenge to believe in oneself, one's abilities, and one's projects. James's story is a universal parable about the value of growth and transformation.
Director
Domenico Zazzara
Producer
Emiliano Galigani
Screenwriter
Domenico Zazzara, Emiliano Galigani
Distributor
Entertainment Squad / Studio Dome
Genre
Biography, Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 24, 2025
Runtime
1h 11m