This experimental documentary, which includes interviews with Avital Ronnell, Oliver Sacks, and Merce Cunningham, explores pilgrim mathematician Paul Erdos, Hellen Keller, and the philosophical ideas of genius and stupidity. Great Genius and Profound Stupidity is the fourth in a series of films by Benita Raphan on visionaries that were generally considered to be "the future." The others are Absence Stronger Than Presence, 2+2, and The Critical Path.