The 2003 film, Hunger Point, tells the story of Shelly Hunter—a 23 year old struggling with anorexia—through the narration of her older sister, Frannie. While Shelly's presentation of anorexia is typical and conforms to the DSM-IV-TR criteria for a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, the film itself could be triggering for many viewers in that much of the material presented could be misused in an unhealthy way. This paper analyzes Shelly's presentation of anorexia while considering her behavioral, cognitive, and emotional symptoms; furthermore, this paper also includes a critique of Shelly's treatment.
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[...] While more than adequate attention was paid to the depiction of the severity of Shelly's disorder, the film lacked focus on the development and substantiation of the treatment of her disorder. Even though Shelly spends the duration of the film in an inpatient setting, she is never seen in any sort of therapy. Her primary therapist, Marilyn, is referenced only twice, however both scenes in which she is depicted she is never providing any therapeutic services for Shelly. This is not only an inaccurate portrayal but also a portrayal loaded with dangerous implications. [...]
[...] The film opens with a scene in which Marsha is taking Shelly's sister, Frannie, to a weight loss clinic as a child; the following scene shows Marsha encouraging both of her young daughters to not eat the skin of the chicken at dinner. Marsha is beyond fixated with food and weight, pushing unrealistic standards on both of her daughters and creating a very unhealthy home environment. According to Francis (2005), mothers with their own food and weight preoccupations were more likely to influence the eating and weight patterns of their daughters. [...]
[...] While Hunger Point could indeed be harmful to some, its potentially triggering aspects do not, in any way, negate the validity and the importance of the story told. At the film's conclusion, so many resounding themes echo in the viewer's heart and mind: the importance of loving daughters for who they are and not what they weigh, the need for a more healthy society—one that promotes realistic images of women at healthy weights, and the general need for a greater compassion and empathy towards the plight of all individuals struggling with disordered eating. [...]
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