I have a little thing I do with my netflix account. I collect movies according to a theme, and I watch several of them in succession. Themes thus far have been: Victorian literature, Marie Antoinette, Hunter S. Thompson, Greece, World War II, BDSM, etc.
I'm interested in doing a "fat" theme, which would include movies that send a message about fat, whether it be positive or negative, directly or indirectly.
Can you please list any movies you can think of for me to add to my list?
One I've seen recently, which was phenomenal, is one called "Fat Girl". It's about a young teenage girl who is overweight, and how her body image plays out with her emerging sexuality. VERY interesting, and I recommend it.
I haven't seen "Shallow Hal", but it sounds kind of awful. I suppose technically it should be part of my list. Has anybody seen this? Is it as bad as it sounds?
I watched one recently called "Disfigured", which is about an overweight woman and an anorexic as they form a weird sort of friendship. It's...interesting. Not sure it's *good*, but it's worth a look.
There's also "Real Women Have Curves", which stars a pre-Betty America Ferrera.
Oh, I did see Real Women Have Curves!! I loved it!
Stand By Me .... interesting. I saw this movie years ago and I don't recall it addressing weight (although I wasn't overweight at the time, so that might've caused me to overlook).
What's Eating Gilbert Grape was another really good movie.
Since we are all trying to eat healthy, reduce weight, exercise, why not watch movies with the "thin" theme or healthy theme. Watching "fat" movies is kind of like jtrying to justify it.
Good point, Annie. I don't think of it as a way to encourage fatness, but more of a look at what messages are being sent in movies (current movies or old ones) about weight and body image/acceptance.
Perhaps I will do a thin/healthy series next ... or perhaps, I will put movies down and go exercise.
Shallow Hal was terrible - completely unfunny and stereotypical. It made me cry it was so mean-spirited - this coming from a woman who thought the South Park Movie was hilarious.
"Ruthless People" (Bette Midler and Danny DeVito) has a fat-to-thin storyline.
Movies with a message about fat ...
