THIN
The 2006 cinéma vérité documentary film, THIN, directed by Lauren Greenfield and distributed by HBO, is an exploration of The Renfrew Center in Coconut Creek, Florida; a 40-bed residential facility for the treatment of women with eating disorders. The film mostly revolves around four women with anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia and their struggles for recovery.
THIN is the centerpiece of a multi-faceted campaign designed to explore issues surrounding body image and eating disorders, including a companion book, traveling exhibition of Greenfield's work and a website.
Having already shot photographs at Renfrew for her book Girl Culture, Greenfield returned to the facility to direct THIN, her directorial debut, which she produced in collaboration with producer R.J. Cutler.
Living at the center for six months, Greenfield and director of photography Amanda Micheli received unrestricted access, filming not just the therapy sessions, mealtimes and daily weigh-ins that construct the highly structured routine of inpatients' daily lives, but also exploring their turbulent interpersonal relationships with each other, with family and with staff. Access to staff meetings allows us insight into the efforts of the Renfrew medical team and the complex tasks facing them.
The making of the documentary THIN was a continuation of a decade-long exploration of body image and the way the female body has become a primary expression of identity for girls and women in our time. I am intrigued by the way the female body has become a tablet on which our culture’s conflicting messages about femininity are written and rewritten.
Watching this as part of my 3rd-year psychology science degree. Really puts into context the human dimension of anorexia as an eating disorder. I also got to see the beautiful personalities of human beings that are in a lot of distress and pain. Polly made me laugh on more than one occasion, she can somersault onto a bed like no other. Rather dismayed by the insurance aspect when it runs out, you're turfed out. It really eptiomises the huge inequalities that are evident in the USA (as an Aussie), to the extent it undermines client progress on their road to recovery. Is it just me or are the staff there have a bit of an us versus them mentality - hard to see the empathy at times.
Pollack “Polly” Williams committed suicide in 2008 with an overdose of sleeping pills. She was 33 years old.
An amazing and very, very disturbing film. Should be seen by everone living in a world where food is abundant.
I am 5'3 and have dropped as low as 70 pounds-I am now a consistent 80 but this is nowhere near healthy in any way. I imagine what I would do if my own daughter did this to herself-it would kill me. What kind of example am setting for her? Can I find it in me to let go of being so selfish to want to be thin so much that I would risk not being there for her later on for graduation, her wedding, her own children? I have struggled with both anorexia and bulimia since I was 14 (I am now 27). This disorder is so complex-you can't go cold turkey and avoid food like a drug. You need food to live and you have to learn to find a balance in it. Every day is a struggle for me but the stories from THIN such as the tube in the stomach to committing suicide over eating two slices of pizza-that is exactly how powerful this disease is. If there is anything I have learned that was stated here, it is that eating disorders are always a mask of something so much more. For me, the key to getting on the road to recovery was being ready to sacrifice being thin for being alive. The next step was searching for what it is that I am trying to so hard to mask with this destructive disorder. Work the 12 steps, it is the only way to truly work through to recovery. Once you finish the steps, do them again and continue doing them for the rest of your life.
I'm not comprehending why Polly is being removed from the center? I don't see anything that was so negative that she did, those types of "rehab, centers" have people coming in & out consistently. It's all about money, when I went in a drug so-call rehab center, it was MARTIAL LAW 24/7 camera's watching you. You had to sign your name while waiting in line for your food, the man would walk in on you while your taking a damn shower just to sign your name, everywhere you went you were being recorded. They had their favorites men & women were engaging in sex. But if you were their favorite no problem. I've been clean for 5 years now I will never go back to a rehab center a damn thing. It's like being in prison searching your belongings people stealing. I hope these women get better & never set foot back into this facility again. Get your life together & stop letting other people tell you what to do!
Seems to me that these clinics should have healthy staff. Just about all the professional staff members in this video are overweight (some, obese in fact) -- just the type of image that would be a turn-off to the patients.
I watched because even though I have heard about this disease and I have read about this disease it was the stories that, the real lives here, brought into context for me the real illness that their own words can't describe. Patterns of OCD.
The biggest thing i learned is that americas health system is terrible. The only reason people are discharged is due to their insurance running out - no wonder they all relapsed, they had not been treated successfully yet.
The health system is failing these women
I feel so bad for the poor people that were born with this condiction.I cant believe soon a large population of 7 year old kids will be annirex.
Something they could introduce is marijuana and THC products into their regime if the patient wishes due to the effect that it induces upon the user. it would help them eat their dinner and like it.
I haven't watched this documentary in years, but it made a huge impression on me when I was a recovering teenager. Those of you suffering, have hope. If you can get quality treatment sooner, your chances of lifetime recovery are far higher. For those of you being nasty, you are only further perpetuating the bullshit that these people already have to go through. Have some god damned compassion. I hope you never have to experience the living hell that is this. Remind yourself that this is an addiction and a deadly disorder.
This will be the last time I read any comments on any documentary. It's heart warming to see many supportive comments, but it's disgusting to see so many ignorant and nasty comments.
And I haven't even watched this yet.
Why do they let freaking obese people treat eating disorders.
That business is a big sham.
If it's about body image, then why do so many of them wear dowdy and frumpy clothes? I think that it's much deeper than that.
I've lived through 15 years of severe bulimia and fully recovered with the help of my boyfriend. And I feel very lucky to never have admitted myself to a clinic.
In this documentary, all they do is focus on food and control, which are exactly the things that anorexics/bulimics do anyway. I really felt sorry for all the girls in the video...
To overcome an eating disorder, you must dig deeper and face your feelings, not matter how unbearable they seem. Binging and purging (or not eating at all) are just a means to cope with despair.
Therefore, dealing with emotions and pain is the most important part of recovery. It's tough, but not impossible - if you have someone you love.
Anyway, that Renfrew Center fails big time!
of course these patiants aren't happy when they gain weight! cause i never see them working out. onc e they start to gain weight it will all be fat, and that will never look actractive. they need to be on a work out plan as well as a higher calorie meal plan, they must be miserable.
not the best doc about anorexia and bulimia ive seen but its not terrible. im not sure these women are truly being helped in this facility. it seems to be making them more obbsessive about food and weight. the women are attacking each other constantly rather than helping. its not a really effective therapy model.
sad,VERY sad! its hard to escape i and only people who live something like that can understand how pain and stressfull that is!
I showed this Docu to my 8yo Daughter who's got aspergers but keeps worrying about getting fat. Now, she has no trauma in her life. We gently raise her, BUT, because of her disorder, she has this driving NEED to be in control of all things all the time. So, Right now, we're battling with the beginning seeds of it. She's almost 5' tall and about 50lbs. I feed her, she doesn't want to. Heck for the past 3 days at school she's been ditching her food on the floor to get out of eating it. She can't hide food here at home. I showed her this documentary.
Question 1: "Does that look like fun?"
Answer 1: "No..."
Question 2: "Do they look like they have control?"
Answer 2: "No..."
Question 3: "What part hits you the hardest?"
Answer 3: "The girl with the hole in her belly to eat. I don't want that..."
I will bring this up with her therapist next time we go. I don't want my daughter going the way of Poly and the rest of the gang in this docu. :( (Especially the way of Poly)
I wonder if we can nip this in the bud as soon as we can, we can avoid it.
I may be completely off base here, but I can't see how this place helps anyone at all. First Polly is the golden child. Then all of a sudden she'd made out to be crap. Shelly goes from bad to being some type of hero because the staff made bad judgement calls about her and then felt guilty about it. Kicking people out over stupid infractions like that when this is supposed to be a mental health issue?! Turning people against each other rather than encouraging them to support each other in their closeness? They let someone go who clearly needs further help? I don't see this as a healthy environment at all
avd420 We are all deeply and truly sorry that you have had hard situations and experienced profound despair, however, this is inappropriate. I do have a degree in Psychology and Sociology, however, my objection is not on a scientific level, but a human level. I think it is time that you expressed these opinions in a place where people are not seeking support. Redefining the disorder seems very important to you, but redefining creates no lasting change on its own. I appreciate your insights and the time you have taken to express them fully. Nevertheless, please understand that having had difficulties in one’s life does not make a person an expert in all forms of trauma. No amount of internet research can help any one person predict all of the variables. Comparing hard lives makes no difference. Every situation deserves compassion no matter how it is defined. I hope you will consider beginning a clearly marked blog to post your views from this point on. You seem like a very intelligent person. Please consider my suggestion.
Jesus Christ!
dis·ease/di?z?z/
Noun: A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, esp. one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.
I know everyone thinks that they can reinterpret and speculate on medical terminology but it doesn't work like that! Yes it is (technically by definition) a disease! And no, if you've never been through it you don't know what you're talking about, even my friends that have gone through my ED with me my whole life have no idea what they're talking about...
And since everyone's comparing notes- My background: Various trauma's growing up, ex drug addict (Heroin,crack,crystal meth and coke) which were all a symptom of my ED/mental health issues, still on methadone, still an alcoholic, still take drugs other than heroin, still got ED, still got untreated mental health issues (bipolar/schizotypal/OCD), and no one will employ me because of the methadone...
PS. avd420...... People in Africa don't have this disease because they are already starving..... if they DID have anorexia nobody would recognise it as anorexia because they would just see it as not having enough food to eat..... and BECAUSE there is not enough food to eat there a person wouldn't choose food as their form of control..... that's why it only occurs in countries where there is plenty to eat and food is considered a social and cultural practice.... in poor parts of Africa food is merely for survival.
I dont know if this is going to help anything or just cause more drama. But I'm 17 and have had an ED for 6 years now and yes my arms are covered in scares. I don't want to get in the argument that this is a disease or a choice but what I do want to say is there is pain. Its never just about getting thin, just like's its never about just getting high, there is ALWAYS a reason for it. I have had body image issues sense I was little. Sense I was little I have never been a human, never been something that someone should care for. I could't control what happened to me when I was a child, but I thought I could control what I ate and what my weight would be, even though in the end it controls you. This is not a pitty party or a its ok because we are all screwed up. But my issues, I was molested by my father for 6 years, molested by 3 other people that lived around us also. Raped by to of my boyfriends and sexually abused by a friend of the family. And i would agree that maybe i put myself in some of those situations. But those are where my issues came from. So deep down its not about being thin. Its about being "perfect" being WORTH perfection, having control in something in your life. I cry for help even! Trying to get people to see "maybe if you look so sick on the outside, they can see how much pain and "sickness" you are going threw on the inside. This is all in my opinion though. .
I AM DEVASTATED BY SOME OF THE IGNORANT COMMENTS HERE..... No wonder Polly killed herself......
I have suffered from Anorexia since the age of 13 - I am now 37. I am a lot better than I used to be now and haven't been hospitalised for the last 6 years - but have been through some HELLISH treatments in the past that made me worse, due to lack of understanding and compassion.
Anyway, to get to the point, understanding that it is NOT just about how you LOOK but rather how you FEEL inside should make people more compassionate. I never starved myself to look good - it was about expressing my inner pain because I didn't know how to do it verbally - I was only 5 years old when I was sexually abuse - for 4 years by an Uncle..... and I was confused and scared and embarrassed and didn't tell anyone until I was 24. My obsession with food and weight helped me to block out the flashbacks and the HORROR in my mind and my fear of the man who raped me as an innocent child...... Food gave me control over something when I felt I had lost control - and being thin was an attempt to "disappear" because I felt so disgusted with my body and so contaminated by this revolting man.....
PLEASE understand that you can compare people starving in Africa or India with an anorexic - I have a HUGE amount of compassion for people living in poverty, I have done charity work for them and am a human rights activist........ but comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges - the underlying causes are completely different and BOTH warrant compassion. Unless you feel that childhood sexual abuse does not warrant compassion then you should try to understand these women more deeply - they, like me, have EXTREME inner pain caused either by childhood sexual abuse (as is the case for many anorexic's) or some other trauma in their life.
I can see from the point of view of someone who knows little about the illness that it would appear selfish and attention seeking and just plain REDICULOUS (I even feel like that about myself sometimes) but there is much more to it...... if you are interested enough to read more about it you will realise that it really is much deeper than wanting to to be thin for appearance sake.