Or how I learned to stop worrying and love my body (with apologies to Stanley Kubrick). When photographer Taryn Brumfitt had her babies she worried about the changes in her body. Brumfitt posted a before and after shot of her body on line, and was surprised at how quickly the images went viral. She also received hundreds of emails and on-line comments from women talking about the whole issue of body image. This is an issue that affects practically every woman and as Brumfitt points out, nearly 91% of all women hate their bodies. To maintain the perfect body is hard work and requires a lot of sacrifice and obsession with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Brumfitt's documentary aims to inspire women of all ages to embrace their body with all its imperfections rather than buy into the whole obsession with beauty. Ours is a society obsessed with celebrities, and consequently a host of women's magazine perpetuate stereotypes and promote the unrealistic ideal of a perfect figure through photo-shopped images. This is, in turn, promoting an unhealthy lifestyle amongst younger woman. Inspired by the many responses to her online posting and the many questions raised, Brumfitt set off on a long journey to find some answers. It was a long journey that took her around the world to Hollywood, where she met talk show host Ricki Lake, to Berlin where she met actress Nora Tschirner, and to New York where she took part in a photo shoot with noted photographer B Jeffrey Madoff and a bunch of women on different shapes and sizes. One of the strangest characters she encounters though is Harnaam Kaur, a bearded lady who talks of her struggle to find acceptance and to fit in with societal expectations. Embrace is as much an activist film trying to make a change in our perceptions as it is a documentary, much like Damon Gameau's That Sugar Film from last year, although not as generally entertaining. This is a film that speaks passionately to female audiences. Brumfitt's ultimate message is that the fashion industry itself needs to undergo a radical shift in how it addresses issues of beauty. Embrace is the most successful crowd funded Australian documentary, and, despite its limited cinema release, will undoubtedly reach and inspire its target audience.
8 Reviews
Outstanding documentary about the women's body shaming industry
CineMuseFilms7 August 2016
Documentaries are a great platform for social and political enlightenment and there no limits to their educational power. The Australian-produced film Embrace (2016) is an outstanding example of documentary storytelling with potential to change attitudes towards the perception of women's bodies. Its impact comes from the way it does not preach, it does not lecture, rather it reaches out to both men and women everywhere and asks why is the tyranny of body shaming continuing into the modern era?
Director Taryn Brumfitt created a social media firestorm when she posted 'before and after' images of herself but reversed the order in which people expect them to appear. In other words, the 'before' image represented the idealised female form posing in a bodybuilding contest while the 'after' image represented comfortable self-acceptance after having three children. Expressing pride in her 'after' shape was a simple gesture that shocked millions into thinking about the body image cultural prison that tyrannises women. It also flushed out large numbers of vitriolic trolls whose fantasies were threatened. The global reaction led her to crowdfund a film and travel across several continents interviewing prominent and ordinary women who speak openly about their bodies. Everywhere she goes, media-scapes are dominated by images of underweight women who dare not eat normally but whose images create unattainable role models. In the only scene dominated by a male, Brumfitt subjects herself to an assessment by a cosmetic surgeon who shames and prods her like bits of meat begging for a scalpel. The film records with warmth and sensitivity the views of women who reflect the diversity of the female form, and it is impossible to not be touched by their stories.
As a male, it was a shock to hear that over 90% of women dislike their body and the most common adjective used by women to describe their own is "disgusting". To Brumfitt's credit, she left the elephant in the room unnamed and there is no obvious finger pointing towards the media moguls and the captains of the shaming industries. The globalisation of media has accelerated the problem and even in cultures where once a fuller female form was greatly admired they are now dealing with the long-term emotional scars of shaming bodies into smaller shapes. If Embrace was shown in every high school it would lead to lasting cultural change and contribute towards a happier world. Women may learn little from this film, but men can learn a lot.
Director Taryn Brumfitt created a social media firestorm when she posted 'before and after' images of herself but reversed the order in which people expect them to appear. In other words, the 'before' image represented the idealised female form posing in a bodybuilding contest while the 'after' image represented comfortable self-acceptance after having three children. Expressing pride in her 'after' shape was a simple gesture that shocked millions into thinking about the body image cultural prison that tyrannises women. It also flushed out large numbers of vitriolic trolls whose fantasies were threatened. The global reaction led her to crowdfund a film and travel across several continents interviewing prominent and ordinary women who speak openly about their bodies. Everywhere she goes, media-scapes are dominated by images of underweight women who dare not eat normally but whose images create unattainable role models. In the only scene dominated by a male, Brumfitt subjects herself to an assessment by a cosmetic surgeon who shames and prods her like bits of meat begging for a scalpel. The film records with warmth and sensitivity the views of women who reflect the diversity of the female form, and it is impossible to not be touched by their stories.
As a male, it was a shock to hear that over 90% of women dislike their body and the most common adjective used by women to describe their own is "disgusting". To Brumfitt's credit, she left the elephant in the room unnamed and there is no obvious finger pointing towards the media moguls and the captains of the shaming industries. The globalisation of media has accelerated the problem and even in cultures where once a fuller female form was greatly admired they are now dealing with the long-term emotional scars of shaming bodies into smaller shapes. If Embrace was shown in every high school it would lead to lasting cultural change and contribute towards a happier world. Women may learn little from this film, but men can learn a lot.
Loved it!
jennifereldridge-0238226 October 2016
The movie had a special showing last night to approximately 100 women at our local theatre, of which I was one of them.
It was one of the best movie documentaries I've seen in a while. It spoke to my heart and soul. I wish every woman had an opportunity to view this remarkable film.
I'm a 45 year old beautiful woman. Even though I see myself as beautiful, I've always struggled with my weight. I do everything right, eat whole organic foods, low carb, absolutely no sugar, exercise 6 days a week, sometimes two times a day, etc. and still the weight remains. I get so obsessed about it... Not because I don't think I'm beautiful but because I want to see results for my years of hard dedicated work. In doing so, I go to extremes, it consumes my life. Every action, every thought is how I can achieve the result I desire. Through the film, Embrace, that I was blessed enough to watch last evening, I think I finally understand that God made me the way I am, and I should just "embrace" it. After all, who would I be if I wasn't the way God intended me to be. I'm Jenn! Apparently I was intended to be a 45 year old, healthy, beautiful, physically fit 5'7" woman and 195 lbs. If I didn't have my struggle, I would not have had the desire to be as healthy as I am today. They say everything happens for a reason, right? In my case, my struggle has turned into my blessing. Today, nourishing my body and exercise is a lifestyle, which is my blessing I received. I just have to learn not go to extremes and be kind and patient with myself. All will be well.
This morning, I wake with a new attitude, reflective of a new path and way of thinking...Thank you!
It was one of the best movie documentaries I've seen in a while. It spoke to my heart and soul. I wish every woman had an opportunity to view this remarkable film.
I'm a 45 year old beautiful woman. Even though I see myself as beautiful, I've always struggled with my weight. I do everything right, eat whole organic foods, low carb, absolutely no sugar, exercise 6 days a week, sometimes two times a day, etc. and still the weight remains. I get so obsessed about it... Not because I don't think I'm beautiful but because I want to see results for my years of hard dedicated work. In doing so, I go to extremes, it consumes my life. Every action, every thought is how I can achieve the result I desire. Through the film, Embrace, that I was blessed enough to watch last evening, I think I finally understand that God made me the way I am, and I should just "embrace" it. After all, who would I be if I wasn't the way God intended me to be. I'm Jenn! Apparently I was intended to be a 45 year old, healthy, beautiful, physically fit 5'7" woman and 195 lbs. If I didn't have my struggle, I would not have had the desire to be as healthy as I am today. They say everything happens for a reason, right? In my case, my struggle has turned into my blessing. Today, nourishing my body and exercise is a lifestyle, which is my blessing I received. I just have to learn not go to extremes and be kind and patient with myself. All will be well.
This morning, I wake with a new attitude, reflective of a new path and way of thinking...Thank you!
Fantastic....a film everyone ought to see.
planktonrules5 May 2017
"Embrace" is an unusual documentary in that I wish parents would consider showing it to their children
.even though the film has some nudity and language that are likely to offend many. Why would I suggest it? Because the picture does a lot to make women do something very few actually do
.to love the body God gave them. Plus, while many parents might be in denial, their kids are very likely already looking at nudity on the internet and I think seeing normal women naked, like you occasionally do in this film, is a lot healthier than seeing many of these other women on the net or on television or in magazines. So what you might want to do, parents, is see the film yourself and then consider showing it to your children. Not just your girls (to whom the film is aimed) but your boys as well
as there is a lot they could learn from it
especially about what beauty really is.
The Australian actress, Taryn Brumfitt, wrote, directed and stars in this documentary. It begins with this mother of three talking about how she used to look long ago and how ugly and disappointed she felt in herself because of the wear and tear on her body after having children. So, she tried dieting and exercising and DID gain back a very skinny body and still felt miserable! That's when she realized that the ideal she was seeking was really impossible to attain. What follows is Taryn's trip around the world to meet with other women who just didn't feel they looked good enough and how they have learned to cope with the insane and unattainable ideal look for women. It's an ideal perpetuated by airbrushing as well as fashion designers who are apparently insane and think everyone is a size 2! The result of this is widespread self-hatred and quite a few who pick up eating disorders in order to try to be perfect.
Now you might be thinking that this film consists of a bunch of angry feminists screaming about how they hate society and men but you get none of this in the documentary. Instead, you see a lot of very confident women who have just decided that this ideal in unattainable and in spite of this they have learned to love themselves. You also, sadly, meet several beautiful women (such as models) who still manage to feel inadequate! The bottom line is that this affirming film does a lot to encourage women to love who they are and embrace their figures. A few of these ladies have even had serious disfigurements but have come to realize that despite this, they are beautiful. Overall, a very well made film and one that can do a lot of good. See this film with someone you love or your kids (ha, ha ) or perhaps as a whole family. You'll most likely be glad you did and there is so much to love about "Embrace".
The Australian actress, Taryn Brumfitt, wrote, directed and stars in this documentary. It begins with this mother of three talking about how she used to look long ago and how ugly and disappointed she felt in herself because of the wear and tear on her body after having children. So, she tried dieting and exercising and DID gain back a very skinny body and still felt miserable! That's when she realized that the ideal she was seeking was really impossible to attain. What follows is Taryn's trip around the world to meet with other women who just didn't feel they looked good enough and how they have learned to cope with the insane and unattainable ideal look for women. It's an ideal perpetuated by airbrushing as well as fashion designers who are apparently insane and think everyone is a size 2! The result of this is widespread self-hatred and quite a few who pick up eating disorders in order to try to be perfect.
Now you might be thinking that this film consists of a bunch of angry feminists screaming about how they hate society and men but you get none of this in the documentary. Instead, you see a lot of very confident women who have just decided that this ideal in unattainable and in spite of this they have learned to love themselves. You also, sadly, meet several beautiful women (such as models) who still manage to feel inadequate! The bottom line is that this affirming film does a lot to encourage women to love who they are and embrace their figures. A few of these ladies have even had serious disfigurements but have come to realize that despite this, they are beautiful. Overall, a very well made film and one that can do a lot of good. See this film with someone you love or your kids (ha, ha ) or perhaps as a whole family. You'll most likely be glad you did and there is so much to love about "Embrace".
Powerful
angie-83-10327022 September 2016
A must see film for every daughter, sister, mother, grandmother...and for every man. The empowering body image movement needed a credible voice. The thing is, while Taryn herself brings a simple clarity to the conversation, and while she interviews the some of the most compelling, inspiring women of our time, what she has done here is give credibility to that inner voice inside each one of us that whispers that we are all good enough, we are powerful, and we are beautiful.
While there are exceptional films that inspire us to level-up as human beings, rarely does a film inspire me to do an about-face, call me to action. I came home and dumped out my collection of diet pills.
While there are exceptional films that inspire us to level-up as human beings, rarely does a film inspire me to do an about-face, call me to action. I came home and dumped out my collection of diet pills.
Good message, but irrational
tedlandberg1 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
It seems like this was well intended, but it is full of bad psychology and double standards. Yes, women should love their bodies, and fat people shouldn't feel ashamed. However, if you're trying to make a point by remaking a photo shoot of a skinny girl and an athletic guy from a clothing company, don't make it with a fat girl and an athletic guy. I understand that the image being sold to young girls is not healthy, but the same could be said about men in fashion magazines, fashion shows, movies, TV shows, ads, etc. I don't feel great when I walk by advertisement displaying a guy with 50 abs, or looking at a magazine with 20 ways to get a beach body by summer, but I don't feel like I need to make a documentary about it. I just don't buy those things. Getting older sucks, sugar is addicting, your metabolism slows with age. If you're not willing to adjust your lifestyle to change something, like your body shape, that's fine. Just don't do it, and stop caring about it.
The future is self love
oldschool8516 February 2017
If there's one thing that has been present in this world since the dawn of time, it is judgment. Judgement on others and especially on ourselves for how we look, act, feel, eat, live, breathe. Every aspect of human life is under some form of scrutiny and the toxic brainwashing influence of the media has spawned a human race that has become completely obsessed with aspiring to be something that doesn't exist: "The Perfect Body".
Rising from the platform of social media that is plagued by the worst forms of judgment imaginable, writer/director/positive body image warrior Taryn Brumfitt took the most courageous step to begin moving the human race from self-loathing to a place of self love and love for others. After posting on social media what is considered to be a rather unconventional before and after photo of herself, this very powerful documentary about love and acceptance of the self and others as we all are was born.
Embrace demonstrates how alarmingly many of us around the world are in the space of self-loathing and self hate. Taryn has clearly done her homework, splicing in numerous heartbreaking facts and statistics throughout the running time attributing to this fact. Blowing the whistle on the media and how grossly and increasingly manipulative it has been over many decades, she travels the globe in search of people from all walks of life, of all shapes and sizes, and shares their real life unique stories. She bares her entire life and soul with gusto and confidence, and Embrace achieves its goal in spades in a very blunt but yet delicate and tasteful manner.
Embrace is a triumphant documentary about a very pressing topic that needs to be seen by everyone around the world, owned in every household and shown in every school. Absolutely essential viewing!
Rising from the platform of social media that is plagued by the worst forms of judgment imaginable, writer/director/positive body image warrior Taryn Brumfitt took the most courageous step to begin moving the human race from self-loathing to a place of self love and love for others. After posting on social media what is considered to be a rather unconventional before and after photo of herself, this very powerful documentary about love and acceptance of the self and others as we all are was born.
Embrace demonstrates how alarmingly many of us around the world are in the space of self-loathing and self hate. Taryn has clearly done her homework, splicing in numerous heartbreaking facts and statistics throughout the running time attributing to this fact. Blowing the whistle on the media and how grossly and increasingly manipulative it has been over many decades, she travels the globe in search of people from all walks of life, of all shapes and sizes, and shares their real life unique stories. She bares her entire life and soul with gusto and confidence, and Embrace achieves its goal in spades in a very blunt but yet delicate and tasteful manner.
Embrace is a triumphant documentary about a very pressing topic that needs to be seen by everyone around the world, owned in every household and shown in every school. Absolutely essential viewing!
A diversified perspective for people of all ages
jehwinter19 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the most profound movies we've seen in a long time. It is well-filmed, written and told. It shows the challenges that people face in attempting to attain society's standard of beauty. These challenges include a myriad of factors such as: childbirth, the influence of social media, physical deformations, hormonal imbalances, the explosion of the plastic surgery industry, accidents, psychological barriers and other social pressures. It chronicles battles such as anorexia, scars from burns, a hormonal condition, a brain tumour and the day to day challenge most of us face: simply feeling inadequate with our body image.
Statistics are revealed like children as young as 7 say they feel fat, and women who look "normal" saying they would describe their bodies as disgusting. The honesty is gut wrenching. It compels the viewer to think about the conventional wisdom as respects beauty. What about the beauty we hold inside? What about how we treat people? What about health? I loved when they showed the film maker (in her self-professed normal and healthy body) finishing a marathon. She posed the necessary question of when does a socially defined version of "beauty" overtake the importance of health? Is health a physical measure only? What if it means one's emotional state is in turmoil struggling to maintain that standard?
The discourse that Embrace ignites is deep, meaningful, and SHOULD be life changing. I walked away from it deeply saddened, but equally moved to reassess my own value system...and that which I seek to help embed in my children and students.
Statistics are revealed like children as young as 7 say they feel fat, and women who look "normal" saying they would describe their bodies as disgusting. The honesty is gut wrenching. It compels the viewer to think about the conventional wisdom as respects beauty. What about the beauty we hold inside? What about how we treat people? What about health? I loved when they showed the film maker (in her self-professed normal and healthy body) finishing a marathon. She posed the necessary question of when does a socially defined version of "beauty" overtake the importance of health? Is health a physical measure only? What if it means one's emotional state is in turmoil struggling to maintain that standard?
The discourse that Embrace ignites is deep, meaningful, and SHOULD be life changing. I walked away from it deeply saddened, but equally moved to reassess my own value system...and that which I seek to help embed in my children and students.
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