To The Bone is a movie released in 2017 directed by Marti Noxon and features stars such as Lily Collins and Keanu Reeves. I'll save you the explanation of the entire plot since I truly believe you must watch this for yourself, but the main focus of the move is Ellen, or Eli, who is a twenty-year-old girl struggling with Anorexia Nervosa. Although suffering might not be the proper word, as Ellen doesn't exactly want help in the traditional sense. Her entire life has been consumed by her disease and in a way, she is okay with that. Her family- which is an entirely different mess within her life, decide that they have exhausted all other options and want Ellen to go to a very successful, yet unconventional doctor for help. Filled with cynical and sarcastic comedic relief, this movie brings every aspect of this illness together in one short film.
This may not be the most thrilling and attention-grabbing movie you'll watch, but the impact I felt while watching it was immense. To The Bone does not hold back, and the film faced a lot of criticism for it. Eating disorders are hard to put on a screen. It makes people uncomfortable; mothers worry it will glorify the disorders and cause issues in their own children, and the struggles shown on screen aren't the exact same struggles everyone faces with this disease faces. You also may be thinking, why would I want to sit down and watch a movie about a sick girl with an eating disorder? But here's why- you should care.
Disordered eating, body image issues, and eating disorders have taken over so many lives. Our screens are constantly filled with picture perfect models and influencers, how are we expected to be comfortable in our own skin when all we see is the many ways we should be changing ourselves to fit the ideal influencer body type? Yet no one talks about what happens to those who change so much they develop anorexia, bulimia, and all the other issues that follow suit. Skeleton physique, brittle bones, chronic fatigue, hair loss, the list goes on and on.
For those who have faced eating disorders, disordered eating, or body image issues of any kind To The Bone hits extremely close to home. For those who have friends or family that struggle with eating disorders, you might be able to see yourself on screen as well. Even for those who have had no experience with any of those issues, this movie will open your eyes to a whole new world of struggles you never knew existed. Many people struggle to understand how someone can let themselves get to such a low place, but after watching, I hope you understand. I hope you understand that "just eat more", "you look fine", and "you need some meat on those bones" are not going to fix those who struggle with this illness. I hope you realize that eating disorders are a very real and very dangerous illness. So, if you haven' t watched yet, this is my encouragement to do so. You never know when you or someone you know might be struggling with an eating disorder, and every small glimpse into what it's like is beneficial. I know you won't regret spending your time watching this, so hop on Netflix and let To The Bone take you to a whole new world.
