Anorexia in its extreme is a form of suicide by starvation. In a world where starvation is rampant, in Canada, the land of plenty, one quizzes themselves why starvation suicide by anorexia when millions would beg for sustenance instead of death? This may be one of the reasons anorexia is so incomprehensible to many. Step back folks and realize, if you haven’t already done so, anorexia is a psychiatric disease and in many respects would have similarity to drug addiction.
I noticed anorexia initially some 30 years ago when on my way to work I saw an emaciated woman reminding me of archival footage from Auschwitz. She was barely capable of walking but in a near trance was jogging or better said half stumbling at a furious pace. After a few weeks she disappeared from my morning routine. It was a haunting image I see all too frequently in the City of Toronto. The day before watching this short I drove home from some errands as schools were being let out. I saw three preteen skeletons walking home. Disturbing but over the years not so rare.
In this documentary short the filmmaker, , recounts her teen experience with anorexia and the best I can determine the reasoning for her anorexia was fear of exiting childhood and becoming a woman, a depressed mother, relentless media adoration of “skinny”, sibling rivalry and low self esteem that transformed a “chubby Punjabi” into an anorexic.
An interesting personal delve into anorexia of which we have been all too well schooled about. A brave and courageous exposé but excuse me it has been seen and heard about before so perhaps most valuable to newbies to anorexia. It is rather disturbing that many who are champions of sympathy and empathy for mental illness have no time for anorexics. While millions of starving citizens of the world would be dumfounded by anorexia enlightened North Americans call for treatment, compassion and empathy.
There is no resolution of the health and safety of Eisha Marjara in the documentary. Unsatisfactory documentary conclusion.
The director is Eisha Marjara.
Check out excerpt from the film here https://vimeo.com/915573892
Screens 29April and 5May2024 part of the Shorts Programme. It is a world premiere.
RKS 2024 Film Rating 66/100.
Set the Bar 