Posted by Poet on November 19, 2006, at 18:00:15
In reply to devastating HBO documentary THIN, posted by Dr. Bob on October 26, 2006, at 0:57:07
I've never been in residential treatment for an eating disorder, but since I am bulimic I think I can comment on *Thin* both from the perspective of someone who has an ED and someone who studied documentary film.
No one featured got my sympathy, identification with body image issues, yes, feeling compassion for them- no. I never got the feeling from any of the three women age 25, 28 and 30 featured that they honestly tried to help themselves. These womwn came off looking like rebelious girls at a very expensive boarding school. In some respects the 15-year-old was the most mature, at least, she worried about how much it was costing and that it was a waste of time for her to be there.
The staff at Renfrew receive little sympathy from me, too. They come out looking like they try and try, but what can you do with these uncooperative patients? Seemed like the prevaling attitude of the staff was, we care about you, but we can't wait for the insurance to run out so we can kick you out. Or wait for you to violate a rule, in the case of the 29-year-old, and give you the boot. They had said that she, Polly, was a trouble maker more than once in the staff meetings.
What really bothers me about *Thin* is that the director failed to get me to care about the subject matter, which is a shame, since I should have identified with a person with an ED and I didn't. Frankly, I was offended that people without knowledge of EDs, who watched it, would think that because I have an ED I am sullen and selfish and juvenile like the women featured were. I also understand the high cost of mental health treatment and fear that this documentary made it look like ED programs are a waste of time. In other words, don't get treatment, it won't help. I doubt this was the message the documentary maker wanted to send, but it's how I received it.
Poet
Poet
poster:Poet
thread:697831
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/eating/20060628/msgs/705315.html