British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Facing Anorexia

Synopsis
Bodies have been the subject for admiration, sexualisation, derision and of course competition - the rules ever changing throughout centuries and across cultures. But the West’s obsession with body shapes isn’t necessarily the core of anorexia, and as this down-to-earth and often painful film by a previous sufferer shows, it’s a disease that can attack without warning, for men as well as for women. Starting with the tragic recollection of two parents’ experience of their daughter’s losing battle with her weight, FACING ANOREXIA is an eye-opening portrait of girls and young women on the edge of life, their only issue apparently being what they do or do not put into their mouths. But as filmmaker and ex-anorexia sufferer Jessica Villerius discovers, anorexia nervosa is a mental illness that has its roots in control and self-image - one that can start in many ways.

The loss of a parent, a jibe from classmates about your figure, other parts of your life being unhappy - it’s the drive for bringing order and a form of safety to someone’s emotional stability that can ultimately become a prison and, for some, a death sentence.
Villerius visits young women in various stages of their illness and finds out about the types of treatments they’re receiving to help them at the very least, not get any thinner. All are aware of the battle in their mind - some literally hear voices, others are afraid to put on weight because the moment they do is the moment they start to feel human again - to feel frightening emotions.

(60 minutes)
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Year of production
2008
Subjects
Health Education; Medical sciences; Psychology; Social welfare; Mental Health and Counselling
Keywords
anorexia nervosa; body image; mental health

Online availability

URI
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/9458/Facing-Anorexia-
Delivery
Streamed

Credits

Director
Jessica Villerius

Distributor

Name

Culture Unplugged

Email
contact@cultureunplugged.com
Web
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/ External site opens in new window

Record Stats

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