Portrait (I) (2004)

Esther is an overweight, junk food addicted office lady who is constantly mistreated by her fellow co-workers until one day her life (and body) is transformed when her portrait is taken by an unknown photographer named Bud.

Director:

Jordan Scott

Writers:

David Carter, Eric Frost (story),

Stars:

Amanda Detmer, Jacqueline Anderson, Minnie Driver

Cast

Cast overview:
Amanda Detmer	...	Esther
Jacqueline Anderson	...	Erica
Minnie Driver	...	Donna
Sabra Miller	...	Caroline
Rebecca Beluk	...	Answering Machine Caller
Jeff Hahn	...	Fun Run Guy
Reggie Currelley	...	Mike
Fran McGivern	...	Narrator

Storyline

Esther is beautiful beneath the surface, in an office where the surface is all that matters. Plus she has brains and about 100 extra pounds. Her nasty, brutish, and tall colleagues (Donna, Caroline, and Erica) make fun of her even as they depend on her knowledge. One day, she excitedly offers to show them a portrait she's had taken by Bud, of "Bud's Glamour Shots," who had spammed the office with an e-mail promising a picture that will reveal her true inner self. Cut to Esther, driving home in tears. That night she sleeps with the portrait near the bed and awakes to discover something extraordinary. When the three harpies see the result, will they book a session with Bud?

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Plot Keywords:

obese woman | product placement | amazon theater | overweight woman

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Genres:

Comedy | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 November 2004 (USA)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

9 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first film released as part of Amazon Theater, "a series of five original short films available exclusively at Amazon.com as a free gift to our customers." It became available for viewing on 9 November 2004. Each film featured and then listed products in the credits that could be purchased at the site. The films were sponsored by Chase, issuer of the Amazon Platinum Visa Card.

User Reviews

Fat=Ugly, Amanda Detmer=Beautiful

Well, here we are with another story about how fat is ugly and if you're beautiful on the inside then you deserve to be skinny. Not to take a to cynical view of things, of course. Anyway, its a pretty cute movie. All the characters are cutely outrageous, and just AbFab enough to earn your grudging respect. Of course, you smile as well when the head meanie (played by Minnie Driver) gets what's coming to her. Amanda Detmer is cute and nice as the chubby and then beautiful Esther, showing an exuberance that is very welcome. And the omnipresent narrator engages with her (Irish?) accent, and witty comments of all those involved. My favorite part is the description of Caroline: "This is Caroline, she has effectively slept her way to the middle", during which a slew of pictures flash by, including Minnie Driver's character, followed by the crack of a whip. So, all in all, funny, uplifting, and reassuring, if you're not fat, of course.