Disfigured (2008)

Lydia is an overweight sales clerk in a trendy home furnishings store, nearing 30. Though she is a member of a Fat Acceptance Group (a movement dedicated to fighting prejudice against ... See full summary »

Director:

Glenn Gers

Writer:

Glenn Gers

Stars:

Deidra Edwards, Staci Lawrence, Ryan C. Benson

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Deidra Edwards	...	Lydia
Staci Lawrence	...	Darcy
Ryan C. Benson	...	Bob
Elizabeth Sampson	...	Carol
Sonya Eddy	...	Pam
Lindsay Hollister	...	Alice
Heather Brooker	...	Judy
April M. Walsh	...	Gwen
Juanita Guzman	...	Roxanne
Teebone Mitchell	...	Hilliard
Patrick Gorman	...	Marcus
Laurie O'Brien	...	Sheila
Cheyenne Wilbur	...	Patrick
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sarah Beth Bassak	...	Sarah
Mercedes Castro	...	Mercy

Storyline

Lydia is an overweight sales clerk in a trendy home furnishings store, nearing 30. Though she is a member of a Fat Acceptance Group (a movement dedicated to fighting prejudice against overweight people), she is still struggling with complex feelings about her body and its place in the world. Darcy, a recovering-anorexic real estate agent in her mid-20s, is struggling with the same issues from a very different perspective. Her attempt to join the Fat Acceptance Group (since she sees herself as fat) is quickly rejected - but it introduces her to Lydia. Lydia is initially wary of Darcy's efforts to become friends, but Darcy's hunger for emotional contact breaks through the wall of apparent differences and they begin an unexpected friendship. At the same time Lydia gets involved in a sexual relationship with Bob, an overweight man who joins her in walking for exercise early mornings at Venice beach. Stirred emotionally by this new romance and by her conflict with the Fat Acceptance Group,...

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Plot Keywords:

fat | acceptance | overweight | beach | anorexia | 

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Taglines:

a movie about women and weight

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 July 2008 (USA)

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$586 (USA) (18 July 2008)

Gross:

$586 (USA) (18 July 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Launchpad Productions, Dialogue Heavy Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Compelling film observing some very real issues in our world...

An exceptionally well-made and powerful piece that focuses on women and their body images. This tells an interesting diametric between Lydia, a genuinely overweight retail clerk, and Darcy, an anorexic real estate agent who envisions her stick-figure self as obese, and the friendship bond that they form. This film could have dove into some characteristic fat and skinny jokes, and maybe even gotten a bit darker than it should, but instead, it touched on the subjects with care and intelligence that, if nothing else, will give the audience a means to look at themselves, and perhaps understand what others go through.

Director Glenn Gers expertly touches upon this tale from thoughts that he had had himself about how women saw themselves. Through some research and good dialog writing, the film touches upon a wide variety of issues that surround obesity, anorexia, self- envisionment, and the anger that can arise. Much of the dialog was ad-libbed by the actors, given only the instructions to follow whatever they would normally say or want to talk about - especially during the social group for fat people scenes. Should obese people accept the term "fat," or embrace it? Should other people be forced to face them and deal with it? Would boycotting help? What about anorexics who view themselves as fat, and think others see them that way? Should fat people take offense, or be more understanding of their plight?

There are places of slight unreality, and some questionable discussions of how certain things might be handled, but it's not so much that it affects the outcome of the film and its message. One thing to point out as well are the main actresses - neither of whom has any major personal issues, nor eating disorders, in their real lives. Overall, "Disfigured" is compelling, and excellently made. Recommended for everyone to see, to help promote better understanding of ourselves.