Film Lens
The Famine Within is a Canadian documentary directed by Katherine Gilday, released in 1990. It addresses women's body image issues and the prevalence of eating disorders in North America. Narrated by Rebecca Jenkins, the film features interviews with women of various backgrounds, including dancers, mothers, and athletes, sharing their personal experiences with eating disorders. The documentary combines these testimonies with expert opinions to question societal pressures surrounding body size and the obsession with thinness among women.
The film premiered at the 1990 Festival of Festivals and was later broadcast by TVOntario. It critiques the cultural ideals of beauty that lead many women to fear weight gain and feel inadequate. The documentary won the Genie Award for Best Feature Length Documentary at the 12th Genie Awards, marking its significance in addressing the rising numbers of eating disorders among women during that era.
Why Watch
- •Meet women sharing real stories about eating disorders.
- •Find out how body image issues affect women today.
- •See expert opinions on the impact of diet culture.
Did You Know
•The Famine Within premiered at the 1990 Festival of Festivals.
•The film won the Genie Award for Best Feature Length Documentary in 1991.
•All participants in the film, except one, are women.
•The documentary features women of various ages, from young girls to older women.
Perfect For
Body image discussionsEating disorder awarenessDocumentary enthusiasts