This is the amazing story of Mark Hogencamp and the world he created when his was stolen.

After being beaten into a brain-damaging coma by five men outside a bar, Mark builtt a 1/6th scale World War II-era town in his backyard. Mark populates the town he dubs “Marwencol” with dolls representing his friends and family and creates life-like photographs detailing the town’s many relationships and dramas. Playing in the town and photographing the action helps Mark to recover his hand-eye coordination and deal with the psychic wounds of the attack. When Mark and his photographs were discovered, a prestigious New York gallery sets up an art show. Suddenly Mark’s homemade therapy is deemed “art”, forcing him to choose between the safety of his fantasy life in Marwencol and the real world that he’s avoided since the attack.

The level of detail in Marwencol is fascinating, for example here Mark explains how he ‘Ages’ his vehicles…

I started needing vehicles for my town. So the first thing I bought was a scout car and I was like, ‘Damn, the tires looked so brand new’. They had a little factory seam on the tires. It looked like they just rolled off the showroom. I didn’t want that.”

“So I started dragging stuff. Everyday I walk to the store to get my food and smokes. So everyday I drag a vehicle behind me while I’m walking. It wears down the tires and makes the vehicle look like a vehicle in wartime would actually look. Plus then my people can get out of town for a ride.”

“The jeep has 180 miles on it. That’s 1080 miles in 1/6th scale. So I’m getting closer to as many miles as the jeep would have run in actuality. I keep track of it in all my journals and stuff.

A documentary is currently being shown in the US, and hopefully it’s coming to the UK soon! Here is a selection of photographs of Marwencol, followed by the official theatrical trailer. Mark’s story is truly inspiring, to find out more visit his site and prepare to be amazed…