Never before have I seen a documentary on eating disorders that presented such a raw, gritty, no holds barred, look at the world of eating disorders. I have seen countless movies on eating disorders and read many books on the subject but watching the documentary was like being in the room with the sufferers themselves, and at times more than just being in the room with them, Mr Mathews actually takes us into their "head" and into the thought process of someone who is suffering from an eating disorder.
Unlike previous documentaries, their is little sanitation or censoring of thoughts. More than anything, one comes to understand, male or female, gay or straight, eating disorders are often developmental disorders and chiefly coping mechanisms.
The elephant in the room that society so often ignores is finally talked about...we have an obsession with weight, and it affects the way we think about ourselves and judge others. As much as people don't wish to admit it, it often affects their thinking. Sufferers are often filled with so much self-hatred that society's nonacceptance of their suffering often serves to compound their illness and in many minds confirm the most negative thoughts they have about themselves.
What I found particularly striking, was the similarities of issues between women and men. Often there was divorce, or absent parents, nonacceptance from parents, extreme societal pressure, teasing, a feeling that one did not meet the social ideal and would not find a mate, issues of control, fear of being unattractive, uncertainties about the future, or disenchantment about one's body type.
There were many maddening parts of the documentary such as the depiction of the store keeper who was happy to stock his shelves with meal replacements, or a recovered group leader who was very adamant about never being fat, admitting to once seeing fat people as repugnant, and fat as a way to cover up emotion. Maddening not because of their views necessarily, after all, they represent a slice of the population who also believe this, but that this just makes things harder to change societal views and stereotypes, and can be damaging to people who are overweight. (The film did present someone who was overweight and suffering from an eating disorder. I wondered how this man who fare in a group with a leader who was secretly fat-phobic? Moreover, is this happening across America?)
Overall, I found this documentary enlightening, gripping and have already recommended it to friends. I did watch it several times just to take it all in, because it is jam packed full of issues, and I didn't feel that I could get an appreciation unless I did so.
I commend Mr. Mathews for what must have been a difficult film to make and I thank him for this wonderful contribution.
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