Disfigured the movie

29th February 2008

posted in Eating Disorders, Fat Acceptance |

I’ve just heard about the independently-financed film Disfigured, showing now at select film festivals in the U.S. The timing is somewhat strangely ironic considering how I am in the midst of formulating a blog post on the intersection of fat rights and eating disorders (to be posted soon).

Here’s a synopsis taken from the film’s website:

Lydia is a fat, graceful woman struggling to maintain her identity in fashionable Venice Beach, CA. Though she is a member of a Fat Acceptance Group (a movement dedicated to fighting prejudice against fat people), she still struggles with complex feelings about her body and its place in the world.

Darcy, a recovering-anorexic Venice real estate agent, is struggling with the same issues from a very different perspective. Her attempt to join the Fat Acceptance Group (since she sees herself as fat) is quickly rejected – but it introduces her to Lydia.

Though they seem at first to be each other’s worst nightmare, Lydia and Darcy begin to confide in each other. Meeting warily in the social minefields of hunger and satisfaction, anger and femininity, sexuality and fashion, trust and fear…they become friends.

But then Lydia, stirred by a growing romance with a sweet overweight guy named Bob, asks Darcy for an unusual favor: she wants anorexia lessons.

When Darcy lets Lydia inside her secret inner world, it forces both women to confront deeply-buried feelings about their bodies – and nothing will ever be the same again, for either one.

Emphasis mine and because this is the only trepidation I have about the film. Pro-ana boards are already full of girls and women who want to know how to become anorexic and I fear messages like this will only promote the idea that you can “learn” how to become eating disordered and, by proxy, just as easily “unlearn” the disorder. While I strongly believe eating disorders are not a matter of choice, I am also painfully cognizant of the fact that one can choose to actively seek out negative and self-destructive forces and behaviors that may contribute to the development of an eating disorder. Once the disorder takes hold, however, it ceases to become a “choice.”

The film sounds intriguing and not just because I straddle the worlds of both Lydia and Darcy. Check out the trailer. Fat girl shown in a positive light? Fat girl with a love interest? Wow!

Writer and director Glenn Gers admits he isn’t a woman nor does he have an eating disorder, although he has seen the struggles his fat wife has endured due to her weight. Rather, Gers says he is fascinated by the complicated relationships we develop with our bodies. Writes Gers of his cast of unknowns:

“I truly love being a ‘Hollywood screenwriter’ and I’ll never stop escaping into melodrama and fantasy, but sometimes you tell stories in order to explore the messy, momentary truths of our daily existence.

The bad news is, no one in ‘the industry’ would pay for that.

The good news is, we are living in marvelous times, when anyone can make a movie.”

The even better news is, we are living in such technologically-savvy times when anyone can start a blog and spread awareness of these kinds of films.

Click to Bookmark

This entry was posted on Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 1:26 pm and is filed under Eating Disorders, Fat Acceptance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On February 29th, 2008, Shinobi said:

Wow, this movie sounds kindof like a very close friendship I formed in college. (And still have.) The unexpected bond between a fat girl and an anorexic girl. Fortunately, having seen what it had done to my friend, I never tried for anorexia lessons. (Though I did help her remember to eat.)

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 1:59 pm

2 On February 29th, 2008, Phledge said:

I would really like to see this. From the description the only thing with which I would disagree was the anorexic girl not being accepted into the fat acceptance group–I wonder how they handle that. Otherwise, wow. I hope this gets widespread viewing and acclaim.

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 2:07 pm

3 On February 29th, 2008, kate217 said:

It’s telling that they stopped the trailer there. I’m hoping that it means that Darcy has a brilliant monologue convincing Lydia that she really doesn’t want “anorexia lessons.” I hold out a faint ray of hope that if the lessons actually occurred, that the trailer would include some clips of Lydia’s attempts.

In any case, it’s nice to see the issues addressed in what looks like it might actually be a poignant and sympathetic light.

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

4 On February 29th, 2008, Lindsay B. said:

It’s really strange that that dynamic seems to be common. I grew up with a friend who was anorexic, and we were very close. I can’t say if I helped her that much or not, but I did assure her for a while that not eating lead to more health complications than she was aware of.

I also remember her being much more comfortable eating in front of me than in front of other people, so there would be times that she’d ask me to come over so she could have company while eating. It helped her not focus on the food as much, and quieted the ugly voice in her head- so she told me, anyway- to have someone there to talk to.

Looks like an interesting movie, but I’m already wary about Lydia asking Darcy for help being anorexic. I’m anxious to see how they handle that.

5 On February 29th, 2008, miriam heddy said:

Like Phledge, I’m a bit concerned by the part about the anorexic not being allowed in the FA group because she’s not really fat, as this echoes the b.s. from that Bitch article about how FA/HAES shuns people with E.D.s

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

6 On February 29th, 2008, Rachel said:

If you go to the media kit section on the site, you can download a PDF giving a more detailed overview of the film’s plot. Unfortunately, Lydia is quite serious about the anorexia lessons and Darcy obliges (although it must be said the lessons are far from aspirational for most people).

I think one of the reasons the FA group rejects Darcy is that they say they are not a “self-help” group. I wonder if they also feel if Darcy is mocking the group somehow. If so, I think it illustrates how widely misunderstood eating disorders are.

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 2:34 pm

7 On February 29th, 2008, ShannonCC said:

Hmmm. The trailer does look interesting. I also cringed a bit at the thin woman being kicked out of the FA meeting but that’s because I personally wouldn’t do that.

But the part that made me cringe the most is the anorexia lessons part. I can only hope that was when they first met. I can’t imagine how dense and selfish you’d have to be to actually be friends with someone with anorexia and hear them talk about it and how much it hurt them (which the movie implied to me – that they were friends and shared this stuff) and then say something as flippantly hurtful as that. My concern in that scene is the anorexic, not the fat woman.

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 2:51 pm

8 On February 29th, 2008, ShannonCC said:

Ah, I went and looked at the synopsis. Sounds utterly depressing, LOL! Oh well.

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

9 On February 29th, 2008, MrsDrC said:

Hmmm, I’m very interested in seeing this.

I was little upset at the way the group reacted to Darcy too.

I really wonder what the final message comes out as.

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

10 On February 29th, 2008, Kelly said:

The main thing about the trailer that interested me were the visual differences in the scenes that showed the girls by themselves. Almost all of the scenes with Darcy were dark and gray while almost all of the scenes with Lydia are bright and full of different colors. What do you make of that? For me I think the director is trying to send a subtle message but I could be wrong. Though I hope not as this kind of gives me hope that this movie will have lots of subtle undertones and messages but really only if you look for them. I hope I get to see it though I don’t live in a big city so I doubt it Thanks for letting us know though!

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

11 On February 29th, 2008, Lillian said:

I found the Fatosphere to have lots of good information and enjoyable posts. I would feel odd going to a FA type meeting without my partner (he’s rather large.) I, on the other hand, am heavy for my size. I currently weigh somewhere between 140 and 150, making my BMI ‘overweight’, but I’m wearing size 4 or 6 jeans.

I’ve been called fat from my teens into my twenties by family members, health professionals, strangers, etc and I was smaller then than I am now. I find many blog on the fatosphere tell the story of my life. For example, I dieted into the ‘normal’ weight range to find myself unhealthy and needing to gain weight against the advice of family, doctors, etc. Learning that society thinks being thin is more important than being healthy.

We need to convince people that thin doesn’t always equal healthy. A lot of damage is done to people that are told that they need to lose 20 pounds for their health and find when they lose it that they are less healthy. There are many studies that still claiming that any weight over a BMI of 21 takes years from your life.

There is so much pressure to be thin (light). I think the social pressure is greater on teens that are near normal weight and ‘obese’ teens. Losing that 20 pounds didn’t make me more popular, but it did make me obsess about food, need to exercise excessively to maintain it, lose my TOM, feel cold all the time (even in the heat of summer), become anemic, you get the picture and I was still heavier than other people’s weight goal for me.

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 4:35 pm

12 On February 29th, 2008, Di said:

I am eager to see this movie; it is my hope that it will finally elucidate what really needs to be said to mainstream culture about what and how they are compounding women’s negative body cycles.

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 5:24 pm

13 On February 29th, 2008, Rachel said:

The main thing about the trailer that interested me were the visual differences in the scenes that showed the girls by themselves.

Yeah, I noticed this, too. Also, the scenes vacillate between Lydia confidently dancing in her living room and making love to the guy, to Darcy alone in her bathroom, pinching the skin on her arms.

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 5:37 pm

14 On February 29th, 2008, Jon B said:

Your emphasized text is a very good point. People often think it an easy choice. Then I have to remind them that “Anorexia is refusal of food. Anorexia Nervosa is psychological disorder characterized by…” Confusion!!!!!!!
I agree with this post overall. This movie has some potential to be really good in my eyes, so long as that part is very short.

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 6:16 pm

15 On February 29th, 2008, AnnieMcPhee said:

The very fact that this movie is coming out – I’m totally blown away. The people who wrote it must have been studying up on all the FA movement stuff for a long time – the trailer actually made me cry. I can’t wait for this one.

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 7:36 pm

16 On February 29th, 2008, Rachel said:

I’ve been in touch with the writer/producer, who says the film will be released to the public this summer. He’s agreed to be interviewed here, too, but it may not be until closer to the film’s release.

As I told him in my email, just the fact that he has featured a fat woman in a positive light PLUS he’s given a fat girl a love interest (finally!) floors me. And the incorporation of fat acceptance? I’m blown away.

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 7:51 pm

17 On February 29th, 2008, Phledge said:

Okay, WOW, I just viewed the trailer (I couldn’t do so before because I was at school so I couldn’t use audio). Want. Rachel, do you know if there’s a list of venues where this will be playing?

posted on February 29th, 2008 at 11:39 pm

18 On March 1st, 2008, MSeeger said:

“…Her attempt to join the Fat Acceptance Group (since she sees herself as fat) is quickly rejected…”

Quickly rejected? From what I understand, the fat acceptance movement doesn’t reject members based on their size or their perceived size.

Just confused, is all.

posted on March 1st, 2008 at 1:11 am

19 On March 1st, 2008, Rachel said:

From watching the trailer and reading the synopsis, I think the reason she is rejected is because A. the group insists it is not a self-help group, and B. they may feel as if she is mocking them. I mean, c’mon… don’t we all kind of roll our eyes when a size double-zero woman moans about how fat she is? And if a woman like this considers herself fat and ugly, we think, what does that say of women like ourselves who are arguably 3 times her size? It’s insulting and I know a lot of fat people who might react initially with incredulous anger.

Sometimes women do this as a form of compliment-baiting and others because of issues with body dysmorphia and distorted thinking that comes with eating disorders. The latter is what this film casts light on.

And I think we must also keep in mind, the FA movement is not some monolithic organization with set rules and homogenous members. This could quite plausibly happen and I think we need to acknowledge it and learn from it.

posted on March 1st, 2008 at 3:11 pm

20 On March 1st, 2008, AnnieMcPhee said:

Rachel, ITA. I was skeletal and I DID used to sort of “compliment-bait” – even saying things like “I wish I was fat.” But I’m talking as a kid here, as an adult I was not like that, ever. I guess this is part of why some people differentiate between body acceptance and fat acceptance (both are important and necessary, and not quite the same thing I suppose.)

At any rate the movie looks so wonderful, and yet I don’t know just how it will play to any audience but the FA one. What’s weird is at the official site they have a blog saying they hope it’s the seed for a community…but that makes it sound like there isn’t *already* this existing community that has been around a long time and made such huge strides. But how could they possibly have said all the things they say in the trailer *without* knowing anything about the fatosphere?

I’m getting confused. Sigh.

posted on March 1st, 2008 at 6:43 pm

21 On March 1st, 2008, withoutscene said:

Just now getting around to reading this post…

WOW. Just wow. Fat people as regular people AND the fat acceptance movement, and a complex look at our relationships with our bodies and the intersections here…I’m quite impressed.

posted on March 1st, 2008 at 9:04 pm

22 On March 2nd, 2008, Sarahbear said:

I think when the character of Lydia asks Darcy for anorexia lessons, it could be for any number of reasons for any bit of plot in the film. We don’t get any other bits from that scene, so we have no idea what comes before or after it. I don’t want to be quick to doom and gloom that particular part, because I don’t know what’s behind it. And I am very interested in seeing this film.

posted on March 2nd, 2008 at 6:18 am

23 On March 2nd, 2008, Rachel said:

If you read the detailed synopsis, you will see the anorexia “lessons” aren’t glamorized in the slightest. I think the trailer leaves off on this note because it is titillating and will leave viewers intrigued to see the film.

posted on March 2nd, 2008 at 3:57 pm

24 On March 2nd, 2008, Lillian said:

I have friends that are heavier than I and they have mocked me for complaining about how fat I feel. I’ve been called fat by strangers so it isn’t a laughing matter to me. Many people act like there is no difference between being 20 pounds overweight and 100 pounds overweight.

There are physical difference, obviously. The emotions are different. It’s much easier for someone 20 pounds overweight to starve themselves and overexercise themselves thin. But doing so all the time makes us miserable. Who wants to be starving all the time? We have the same issues with body acceptance.

posted on March 2nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm

25 On March 3rd, 2008, christie said:

This movie looks like it could be really awesome… I am anxious to see it, but at the same time I sincerely hope that she only dabbles in anorexia lessons and then realizes that she is making s mistake!! I would hate to see the movie promote anorexia. I doubt that it will though.

posted on March 3rd, 2008 at 1:25 am

26 On March 4th, 2008, CarrieP said:

I am so psyched to see this! I can’t wait until it comes my way. I, too, hope that the anorexia lessons are discarded quickly but I’m so excited about the prospect of a movie depicting what it’s really like to be a happy fat woman. We’re like the loch ness monster out there…nobody quite believes that we exist

posted on March 4th, 2008 at 4:55 pm

27 On March 4th, 2008, Glenn Gers said:

I just wanted to thank you all for your responses about the movie. It’s really encouraging for me. I’m working to get it out on DVD just as soon as I can – hopefully this July/August.

In the meanwhile, though I can’t reply to everything said here, I do want to tell you that the movie does clearly show the characters coming to realize that the anorexia lessons are a bad idea.

Regarding the FA Group rejecting Darcy at the start of the story: this is a movie full of mixed feelings and unexpected emotional logic. If I did it right, it will convey some basic concepts about FA – but they are part of a wide array of choices Lydia faces. And…it’s a movie: everyone in it goes pretty seriously wrong at some point; I think the movie forgives them, and encourages the audience to do the same.

AnnieMcPhee, you’re of course right about “starting a community”. I meant that I hoped our website might become more of a place where people could discuss their responses to the movie and its issues, and less of a publicity/info vehicle.

Again, I’m sorry I can’t get the movie out to you faster. Please do sign up on the website contact page for an e-mail when/how it’s available…you don’t even have to use your real name, and I don’t lend or sell the list or anything. It’s just really hard to get word about a low-budget no-star movie out there, and I’d hate to think I’d lose some of you because months will pass.

Rachel – thanks for creating this terrific community, and for your comments. I look forward to doing our interview!

posted on March 4th, 2008 at 11:10 pm

28 On March 5th, 2008, yellowhammer said:

I can’t wait to see this movie! I live in tiny town swva and can’t make it to DC for the film festival, but it looks so good from the trailer!

Hurry, Hurry Glen! I will buy a DVD, sight unseen! I wish to support you in this endeavor!

posted on March 5th, 2008 at 1:47 pm

29 On March 16th, 2008, anony said:

I saw this movie a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely loved it. The acting was excellent and the relationship between the women, and their relationships with food and their bodies was just all so well done. There’s one scene where the two women are sitting together at the beach talking about how people talk to them about their bodies and eating habits (part of this is in the trailer) and it’s just absolutely hysterical and really touching. The back and forth and free flow of it was just so real. I’m looking forward to the DVD release as the relationship that develops between these women really is kind of complex and I feel like I didn’t get it all, so I’d really like to see it again.

posted on March 16th, 2008 at 4:51 pm

30 On June 9th, 2008, Coming attractions » The-F-Word.org said:

[...] Gers, the director of the newly-released film Disfigured sent me a copy of the film to review. The hubby and I plan to watch it tonight so my review should [...]

posted on June 9th, 2008 at 11:29 am

31 On June 11th, 2008, Wednesday Recap & Thursday Schedule — filmcake said:

[...] that doesn’t seem to be the case. Reading the Director’s Statement as well as a comment the director Glenn Gers left on The F-Word blog (where similar reservations were mentioned), it appears that this film will neither be quite so [...]

posted on June 11th, 2008 at 10:22 pm

32 On July 1st, 2008, The Biggest Loser or The Cash Cow? » The-F-Word.org said:

[...] copy to screen before the film’s July 29 release. I’ve been intrigued by it ever since I saw the trailer and the film did not disappoint. My review of the film, along with an interview with Gers, is [...]

posted on July 1st, 2008 at 11:07 am

33 On September 9th, 2008, overeating and anorexia: a dialogue said:

[...] there is a movie about this topic, disfigured. i haven’t been able to get it yet but am looking forward to seeing it. anyone been to it yet? [...]

posted on September 9th, 2008 at 2:10 am

34 On October 17th, 2008, Donna said:

Please people see this film. Why are we in such turmoil? Maybe just maybe because we have all lost our way. We all could truly benefit from reviving tolerance, understanding and unconditional kindness. O.K., I have a personal story that is too tough to share right now, but trust me on this, be kind to each other.

posted on October 17th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

35 On August 30th, 2009, susan said:

I just watched this film and I was blown away, I am not overweight but I do struggle with weight as my mom was a big lady and my fear was always that I would “end up” like her, everyday I look in the mirror and I hate what I see but this is the price you pay for been a woman, there is so much pressure put on us at an early age and even now at 43 as much as you get to be more accepting of your appearance there is always that nagging little voice that says otherwise. I do take care of myself more than my mom did. Maybe I learned by example and maybe that wasn’t sucha bad thing. I bet there isn’t a woman out there that doesn’t have issues with her looks, look at all the barbie doll,cat women out there, that is why plastic surgeons are so popular. Again great movie,

posted on August 30th, 2009 at 3:33 pm