Westermann: Memorial to the Idea of Man If He Was an Idea

Westermann: Memorial to the Idea of Man If He Was an Idea is a documentary about the life and work of artist, marine, and acrobat H.C. (Cliff) Westermann. As a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Westermann's dramatic personal history can be traced through beguiling, surreal artworks he made to process the horrors he witnessed on the front lines. In so doing, he became an inspiration for many young artists. The film reveals ways in which Westermann protected his empathic spirit -- and sanity -- by "sculpting" his body, artworks, friendships, his hand-hewn house, and his art-filled letters to his dearest friends and family. The film explores themes of resiliency, hope, and humor with a script culled from over a thousand of Westermann's letters and one audio-interview.