The Final Member is a 2012 Icelandic-Canadian documentary film directed by Jonah Bekhor and Zach Math. The film revolves around the Icelandic Phallological Museum and its founder, Sigurdur Hjartarson, who has spent over 40 years collecting penises from various mammals.
Despite having a vast collection of penises, including those of whales, seals, and even a polar bear, Hjartarson is missing one crucial specimen - a human penis. This drives the curator to find a willing donor who would be willing to bequeath his penis to the museum upon his death.
The film follows the curator’s journey as he advertises internationally for a human donor and two men who have volunteered to become the “final member” - an Icelandic adventurer named Pall Arason, and an American named Tom Mitchell. The film documents their journey, including the awkwardness of asking Mitchell’s family members if they would approve of his penis being donated to the museum.
The film explores the bizarre and often hilarious world of phallology, while also delving into the questions surrounding male identity, fame, and legacy. The Final Member also features interviews with experts in the fields of phallology, psychology, and sociology, who provide insights into the cultural significance of the penis in different societies.
The Final Member premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012 and went on to win multiple awards and nominations at various film festivals around the world. The film offers a unique and unforgettable look into the strange and fascinating world of penis collection.
